Grocery Store Roses and Peanut Butter Cups
It was a long week, even before it was Thursday (now Friday). Bruce has been traveling into LA each day for an install that’s proved difficult, and I’ve been struggling with arthritis pain. We’ve both been tired and preoccupied.
He called on his way home last night – “I’m just at the bottom of the grade, do you want me to stop and pick anything up?”
“I thought we’d go out, pick up your prescription at CVS, then grab some sushi. It’s our anniversary after all,” I said.
“I know,” he responded, “and I didn’t have a chance to send you flowers.”
So that’s what we did. And after eating, we stopped at Trader Joe’s. While he got milk, I picked out some flowers. At the check-out line I added some of Bruce’s favorite dark chocolate peanut butter cups. “There,” I said, “you got me flowers, I’m getting you chocolate.”
That was the opening that was needed. The clerk bagging our groceries asked “How long have you two been together?”
“It’s our anniversary,” I said with a smile, “He proposed 43 years ago tonight.”
She was impressed. “What is your secret?” she asked.
That one is easy – I’ve thought about it a lot. “The most frequently said words in our house are ‘thank you.’ We don’t take anything for granted. ‘Thank you for cooking dinner; thank you for washing dishes; thank you for bringing me a cup of tea.’ The secret is gratitude.”
Thank you, Bruce for asking. Thank you 43 wonderful, amazing years. Here’s to many more, My Love.
