My Best Friend

Perhaps my newest theme is to brag up the cool people in my life. It's my husband's turn. As you well know, we recently moved back to the US. Our 13th wedding anniversary was coming up in April and he told me to block out the weekend for some plans he had made. I imagined a concert maybe, an expensive restaurant, a nice hotel for one night. Nope. None of those things. He blew this one out of the water.

First he flew his mom down from Michigan so she could stay with the kids. This meant that my kids were overjoyed for us to walk out the door. He flew us to Seattle, Washington where we honeymooned many years before. I imagine you're wondering why we went there. Why not Jamaica? Florida? or the ever common Traverse City? Here's why. Even then, we had a sense of adventure. We wanted to do something new. Though we were only 19 years old, we wanted to create a unique experience together.

I grew up on the West Coast and I would tell him about the ocean and the way the mountains roll. Somewhere in a conversation we decided that Seattle was the perfect spot. His first ride on a plane was on that Spring day in 2001 just hours after we said our vows. Long before TSA check-points, before 9/11. We experienced rough air and he had a death grip on my arm. I tried to calm the nerves of my husband, hoping he would make it to our honeymoon destination with me. He did and now 13 years later, he travels 50% of the time, all over the world for his job. Monday he will begin a round-the-world tour bringing him to four countries on three continents in three weeks.

I am so flattered that he chose to spend his Stateside time with me on an airplane to a memorable location.

He had planned out the bus route from the Sea/Tac airport to our hotel and every possible detail in between. But he still had surprises. On the day of our anniversary, he surprised me again. we rented a car and drove to a resort to get a glimpse of Mt. Rainier. The ride up the gondola was beautiful and the weather was in our favor.


We spent most of our days roaming around town to all our favorite stops like Ivar's Seafood and Chowder and Pike Place Market.



We also went up the Space Needle with our Master and Mistress of Ceremonies who just happen to live in Seattle now. Crazy small world. Back in the day, it was the tallest thing we'd ever seen. Now it pales to the Eiffel tower in Paris, Hotel Ukraine in Moscow, and the Canton Tower in GuangZhou, China. It's still special in its own way.

But possibly the best surprise came on the last day. We rode a train to the airport to leave our luggage for the day, then rode it back into town for the Mariner's Season Opener. I haven't been to a major league game in years and to be there with my favorite person, in such a special place was absolutely stunning. He bought the tickets months ago and we were just above the first base line. I remembered quickly how to yell at the umps, cheer on the batter for a "good=eye" and hoot at a stolen base. I forgot how much I missed American baseball (not to mention the kraut covered dogs and 7th inning stretch sing-along).




When he gets back in a few weeks, we are going to see the Detroit Tigers play Baltimore. Immediately after the game, we caught the midnight flight back home. I'm glad I have a husband who knows how to treat his best friend and make new memories that will last a few more years.