Five Years Down

We knew we wanted to do something special for our five year anniversary. We originally decided we would take a three day vacation to the coast. After that idea fizzled we talked about getting a baby sitter so we could have a dinner out. That idea changed to getting a baby sitter for the day so we could hang out together and work on house projects. This is sounding more and more romantic, right? The final decision was to stay at home and enjoy dinner on our new dining room table. After all, the five year ‘traditional’ gift is wood and we have a brand new hunk of wood to eat on. So it was settled. Then Adam started scheming and told me I couldn’t help with dinner. He had something in mind and I wouldn’t know anything more than that until last night’s feast began.

Are you ready for this? The menu retraced our past five years together by food, drink, and music. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful gift he could ever give. The menu was revealed to me as each course was brought to the table along with a picture. You know how there are certain songs that remind you of certain times in your life? Adam had a song/artist for each course that really did set the mood and bring back lots of memories. I got teary after the first course.

So, for those of you that are interested, here is our dinner course by course along with a brief explanation of the meaning behind the choices.

1

Georgia Peach & Mozarella Salad

Champagne

Indigo Girls, All That We Let In

{we lived in Atlanta,GA and the bubbly was appropriate to celebrate our anniversary}

2

Bratwurst, Potato & Onion

Lowenbrau (Munchen) Lager

Josh Rouse, Nashville

{summer 2005 backpacking Europe - we ate lots of meat and potatoes during our time in Germany. Josh Rouse was one of the few cds we took with us. It was pre i-pod days so we had one portable cd player and two sets of headphones.}

3

Virginia Ham and Apple Slaw

Blenheim Vineyards Virginia Chardonnay

Patty Griffin, Impossible Dream

{one of our first Law School activities was a tour of Blenheim Vineyards. The Patty Griffin album reminds us of one afternoon as we were headed home from church - Adam really needed to get back to the library but this album was playing as we were approaching our apartment and he drove right past the turn and we enjoyed an afternoon drive through the country}

4

Guadalajara Chips & Salsa

Water

Ryan Adams, Cold Roses

{living on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, walking to favorite Mexican restaurant to satisfy one of my pregnancy cravings}

5
Fruits of Labor
Blenheim Vineyards Virginia Chardonnay
Emmylou Harris, All I Intended to Be
{The dish included blueberries and strawberries cooked in butter in a cast iron skilled over an apple. The Fruits of Labor took us to our current home with Adam's degrees, a new job and of course a precious baby boy.}

I feel as stuffed now writing this as I was last night and again, a little teary. What a wonderful evening to celebrate our first five years. Here's to many more - Cheers!