It was four years ago today that Mary and I had our first “date”—or, as I like to call it, the quarter-century in the making. We finally upgraded from dance friends to potential lovebirds, leaving everyone in the Starlighters Dance Club wondering, “What’s happening with those two?”

It is also our third wedding anniversary, as we were married one year to the day of our first get-together.

Both events took place at Patty’s Place in Seal Beach, so, you guessed it, we are recreating that event this afternoon with our friends.

To top it off, it is our daughter’s birthday! Colleen turns ## today (the number is hidden to protect the innocent!).

Happy Birthday, dear daughter!

We called Colleen and sang her Happy Birthday. She was out with her family celebrating.

We worked in the garden for a few hours, making the first pass. The grapes went wild during the last two weeks, and we could only get around the garden beds once we filled a 100-gallon trash can with grape clippings.

The garden went wild while we were gone!

Mary surveyed the garden and decided what to do first. We picked today’s lunch from the garden and two boxes of veggies for Dianne.

The garden could be more pretty this time of year; the foliage is browning, and the branches get scraggly, but the plants are still producing.  We pulled the Swiss chard and trimmed the basil, and I unwrapped the squash as it was big enough that the bunnies would not do any damage.

It is 6:30 am, and we are already working.

The overhead trellises were loaded with more beans than a Mr. Bean movie, and the tomatoes were as eager to ripen as kids waiting for the ice cream truck!

When the sun comes out, we huddle under the trellises like vampires, avoiding a sunburn. Who knew gardening could be so dramatic?

Finally, the berry patch kicks in with a multitudinous collection of various berries.  The blackberries are the size of a thumb.  One must be careful, for if you bite into the berry, the juice can squirt. They are so juicy!

Need we say more?

It began to warm up around noon, so we returned to the house and finished washing our trip clothes. Scout, the Wonder Dog, had his favorite toy (Moosie)  and watched us empty the suitcases and make many trips to the laundry.  Scout has had that toy since he was rescued by Mary years ago.  Besides being a little worn, he never destroys his toys; Scout is an excellent baby!

We stayed glued to us all day long.

We sat in the breakfast room and folded the clothes while we watched “Suits.”  At 2:00 pm, we stopped, hit the showers, and readied everything for a 3:15 pm departure for Dianne’s to drop off the veggies and hopefully see David and proceed to Patty’s Place in Seal Beach.

I was rocking a majestic beard four years ago when Mary and I had our first dinner together. Looking back, I’m not sure if she fell in love with me or my beard that night!

The table behind us is where we had our first “date.”

Three years ago, we were married at Patty’s Place!

We are enjoying life together! All I need is about seventeen years!

Jim’s beard looks excellent; I have a few more months to fill in the blank spots.

The adult supervision was kept busy this evening.

Robin and Bob came from Corona to be with us this evening.  We are fortunate to have such great kids who care about us and share.

Robin and Bob had a steak night.

Quick, Mary, before anyone notices. Everybody saw us, and I could not help myself but squeal with delight.  I had expected her to call me Gabby Hayes, but she controlled herself.

Smooooooooooch!

Donna makes her selection from the brand-new menus! Irene sees all the action from her perch at the center of the table.

Bob and Donna joined us.

Patty’s steaks are outstanding. Mary and I had the filet mignons, which were terrific, as expected.

Steak! We are talking great steaks!

We got Vicky so tickled she lit up like a Christmas tree!  We all belly laughed,  burst into laughter, cackled, chortled, chuckled, hee-hawed,  and nearly died laughing at the banter going back and forth across the table.

Someone gots the giggles.

We all wished Colleen and Mark could have been here, but they were with their family celebrating Colleen’s birthday, which was 3,000 miles away!

I love those kids.

Chip shots were flowing this evening.  Robin and Mary seem to be joined at the hip!

Ladies!

We all teased Irene about her upcoming surprise party on the 3rd of August at Casa Valencia.   Mary and I have a lot of work to do to get ready, but the real effort is being done by Chuck and Lisa, who are flying out from North Carolina to cater the shindig.

Auntie Irene is always a joy!

Too bad we had to leave, but we had a 30-minute drive home.

Everyone was heading home.

We only made it part of the way. Before heading home, we stopped at the local pub for a glass of wine and talked to the bartender, who was there alone.

The evening was beautiful, and family and friends surrounded us. May we be doing this twenty years from now!!