7 Years of Experiences

J and I just went out to celebrate our anniversary - we've been married for seven years! One evening, a few nights ago, we sat down and thought about all of the changes that we have experienced in the last seven years. We wrote down a pretty long list, but I thought I would put down a couple of major things here (listed in terms of numerical value, not importance):

• 9 cellphones (Although realize that J gets some phones because of his job!)
• 7 seasons of LOST
• 7 international trips (4 of those were undertaken together)  
• 7 therapy sessions for me
• 7 jobs for me 
• 6 jobs for J
• 5 family funerals
• 5 computers
• 4 houses
• 3 cars
• 3 college degrees received
• 2 pet fish (which lasted about two weeks)
• 2 paradigm shifts
• 2 gym memberships
• 1 robbery
• 1 trip to the emergency room
• 1 temporary apartment in NYC
• 1 child

J planned a really special date for us. We went to a fancy French restaurant for a four-course dinner. (A variant of our pre-set menu is available online.) We had the ahi tuna and scallops, lobster and leeks, NY strip steak, a cheese course, and orange/pistachio streusel. The food was very good, especially the dessert (see above). It was this really fantastic combinations of flavors and textures, from the crunchy sugary candies to the blood orange "glass" shards.

Then we walked over to the symphonic hall for a concert and New Year's countdown. When we walked into the concert, we noticed that a bandstand and dance floor had been set up in the foyer for after the concert. J and I tried to guess what dance music would be played for the New Year's celebration, which was slated to begin after the concert ended. J guessed disco, but it actually ended up being big band music - which makes sense, since most of the symphony concert goers are old people! We had fun dancing to the music of a Frank Sinatra-esque singer and his band. There were all of these old couples dancing around us; the floor was rather crowded so we had to work hard to not bump into the people. The whole environment (i.e. old people bumping into each other on a crowded dance floor, accompanied with big band music) made me think of the audience dance numbers that used to be on the Lawrence Welk show.

 
And, surprisingly, I stayed awake until midnight! J teases me that I have never stayed awake until midnight for the whole time that we have been married. I was determined to stay up, although I immediately suggested that we leave after the New Year countdown took place. We spent the night at a really nice hotel, which served a really phenomenal breakfast in the morning at their restaurant, The Georgian (see above). I could still taste hints of vanilla and maple syrup in my mouth when we drove away. We enjoyed looking at a perfect blue sky and snow-capped mountains as we drove to pick up Sam. What a great way to start the new year.