Day 25: Sept. 5th - Happy Anniversary to Us!

14: Years we've been married.

17: Years we've been a couple.

22: Years since we first met.

2: Children we've created.

3: Homes we've owned.

2: States we've lived in.

6: Pets owned together (1 cat named Milo , 1 dog named Buster, 3 goldfish named Pebbles, Goldie [silver-colored] & Joe [the gold-colored one], & 1 very short-lived hamster named Junior)

3: Times we had to move in with my grandparents (twice due to moving, once due to our house having caught on fire)

3: Multi-state driving vacations, including this one.

23: States travelled together.

4: Countries visited together (Jamaica, Puerto Rico, England & Austalia)

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After checking into the Hotel Albuquerque (cool corner suite, with windows that meet at the corner edges), the kids quickly connected with other kids here for the conference. Phil & I also immediately (at the check in desk!) started seeing friends from previous conferences.

The hotel has a very nice restaurant called Christos, which is where Phil & I decided to celebrate our anniversary. The kids were able to stay up in the room, so it was a grownups only affair. As it turned out, it was an Us-only affair - we were the only patrons in the restaurant the entire time we were there! It was a cozy long rectangular room richly appointed in Mexican artwork, exposed wood beams, & a huge stone fireplace, which was next to where we were seated. Music played softly in the background, complimenting the room.

We ordered champagne & toasted ourselves. During our delicious dinner, we got a little chuckle when the music became a suite of songs from "Carmen", the opera I was in with Westford Chorus this spring. Yummy desserts of "Death by Chocolate" and Creme Caramel finished off the meal. Leaving the restaurant, we strolled under the stars through the courtyard, which was now lit with soft landscape lanterns.

Later we rejoined the children & offered to take them down to the pool. The pool is huge - maybe 25' by 75'. It's surrounded by very comfortable padded chairs & chaisse lounges. There is also a comfortably large spa tub, which Phil & I immediately immersed ourselves into. The kids alternated between the two pools. It was cooling down, but still comfortable, even with the breeze. We chatted with some of the other families, & then it began to empty out. We were among the last to leave the pool area, very relaxed & happy.

All in all, a very nice way to celebrate our love.