Way last spring, my wife saw a blurb in the newspaper about a contest that a hot tub company was running: Describe in 125 words or less, a factual and significant 25-year milestone in your life and what it means to you. The winner with the most compelling story will win a portable spa worth $7,800.
She suggested I enter and gave me the clipping. It sat in my junk box till Monday when I noticed that the deadline was September 30. Here’s my entry.
By the time our 25th wedding anniversary rolled around, we were in love again, maybe even for the first time. We booked a room in a restored historic hotel with a fireplace and a double whirlpool and arranged for my in-laws to stay with our four kids.
After a fireplace picnic of wine, cheese and sourdough bread, we fed each other chocolate truffles in the whirlpool. We were in heaven until the candles set off the smoke detector. I yanked its batteries but the front desk called to say they were sending up the hotel’s maintenance guy. We could hardly get dressed we were laughing so hard. We learned there’s nothing like laughter to intensify a romantic evening. We’re still laughing. And still in love.