Flabbergasted and Humbled
That's what Ernie and I are.
Flabbergasted and humbled.
Now Susan had informed us that she and Teri had something up their sleeve for our anniversary. I guess they didn't approve of our plans to just buy something nice from the fish place and go home and cook dinner. I had been informed that I wasn't to go straight home and take my bra off as per usual, but was to report to Fries and Peanuts and await instructions. And Teri had assured us that it wasn't a party as that would freak us out.
So yes, I figured that dinner was in the mix....but never could have imagined that it was dinner made by all our friends, served by our boys and accompanied by musical messages.
Never could have dreamed.
We showed up at Fries and Peanuts late (because who can turn down a free glass of wine at Bacaro?) to find our dear friends Sue, Richard, Mel, Brian and Teri. They drank a toast to us and we all laughed because we were so happy.
Richard then headed off to our house with dinner for the boys so they could eat before we were released to head home. As we sat there Teri handed us the menu for the evening.
C & E's 25th Wedding Anniversary
Curried cashews with bacon (Good GOD they were good!)
by Mel Farrell
Butternut Squash Soup (everything Sue makes is great and this was no exception....Leo did explain the note she left saying it didn't look as pretty as it did online but we loved it)
by Sue Davis
Mixed Green Salad (nobody makes a salad like Sasha..nobody)
by Sasha Rubel
Roasted Pork with Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, finished with a Dijon and Dry Vermouth Sauce (OMG can Val ever cook)
by Val Deichman
Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Honey Gold Potatoes (heaven)
by Brian Goodnight
Fudge Truffle Cheesecake (need I say more?)
by Susan Kapacinskas
Champagne provided by Boo & Doug
Select Beer and Wine provided by Heather Munson
Your Servers
Leo & Owen Blackwelder
Flowers
Bob & Ann Rasmus
Photography and Portrait
Richard McClaughry Hill
Outreach and Support
Van DeLisle
Production Coordinators
Teri McCarthy & Susan Kapacinskas
And I know there was more....tablecloth and napkins from Becca, china from Susan....
We came home to candles lit all over the house, the table set beautifully....they led us into the kitchen and played a video of Eric Brace, Peter Cooper and Fats Kaplin singing a song for us....complete with bloopers. I think that was the first time we cried, but it was not to be the last.
We were totally overwhelmed. 'Touched beyond words' is not just cliche....we were touched BEYOND WORDS.
The dinner was amazing.....absolutely incredibly delicious. We sipped champagne and ate and giggled because we could hardly speak. Honestly we just sipped and ate and sputtered and smiled at each other, and then sipped and ate and sputtered some more.
Eventually we curled up in the living room and looked at a few more old pictures, then went up stairs, kissed the boys good night and laid in bed and listened to the rain.
We could not possibly have imagined a more wonderful anniversary.....we love you all so much....with all our hearts.
We felt truly loved....and what an incredible gift that is.
Thank you to everyone that was part of this and to everyone that sent us good wishes.
Oh, and Owen did caution us that he didn't think he'd be able to fly in for every anniversary when he's older. We told him we understood.