Rain had been forecast as a possibility for our actual anniversary, but it stayed away, even allowing for peeks of blue sky through a thin layer of clouds. Grateful for the peaceful break, we made our annual jaunt to the Boston Public Garden. The trees were in bloom, if a bit behind their usual schedule. The swan boats had just started running again, their bright white feathers echoing the crab-apple trees.
The colors on this day were as muted as they were fresh, like a whimsical watercolor painting that felt like history about to create or reveal itself. Andy and I walked through the Garden, pausing at the places we knew so well.
Squirrels and ducks and and geese swirled around us, welcoming us back. As unlikely as it was, I still wondered if any of them had been here twelve years ago. Most of the trees remained, a few new ones had been planted, and many had undergone the wear and tear of time. We were older too, taking a slower pace, as much to enjoy the moment as to give our bodies some ease.
Twelve years ago this little bottle of Creed was a bit fuller, but only a bit, as this is the only day of the year on which I wear it.
We made our way through the Garden, then ventured into the site of the former Taj, now the Newbury, where we had once been ensconced in a suite for our wedding weekend. Now, it would be the site of our lunch, and I began with this ‘Prohibition Daisy’ mocktail. Andy chose his favorite Hemingway daiquiri, which showed up like destiny on the menu. Our table overlooked the Public Garden from which we had come, and we reminisced about our rehearsal dinner cocktail hour in this very same room.
After lunch, we checked out the florals of the lobby, where we found peonies, just as we had twelve years ago. We exited onto Newbury Street and meandered to Shreve, Crump and Low for the annual washing of the rings. With all that has happened in the last few years, it was a comfort and a balm to realize that there were still traditions that mattered, still ways to mark time and be grateful, still ways to love…
