Today is my anniversary!

Or I really should say, my husband’s and mine, because I couldn’t have done it without him. Twenty-seven years! Who would have guessed?

On this day nearly three decades ago in sunny Las Vegas, Jim and I stepped into a wedding chapel and were married. There was no Elvis or Klingons-just a well-spoken officiator and his enthusiastic assistant. We stood underneath a trellis of not-too-badly made silk flowers, me in my silver lamé mini-dress and Jim in his Hawaiian shirt, and said, “I do.”

Much has happened in the intervening years. Better and worse, richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, just like our vows promised. We traveled to the Grand Canyon and volunteered at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. We watched the space shuttle Columbia launch, commanded by an astronaut I met later at a Star Trek convention. We went skiing in Montana where I learned that, as romantic as it might sound, skiing is basically a glorified form of slipping. I didn’t like it. But the thing we did most often on our anniversary day, the thing we still do, is go to Mazatlán, Mexico for two weeks rest and relaxation in the sun.

We have been to the beautiful seaside city enough times over the years we’ve begun to know the town. One of our favorite places in the central market where we can buy fresh tropical fruit and vegetables. There is nothing like having a whole ripe papaya to ourselves!

Sometimes when we go, it’s right before the Winter Carnival and the city is full of decorations like this glorious cat head.

We also love the tilework that is everywhere. This is the closeup of a bench beside a Ficus tree with many intertwined roots not far from our resort.

The bands that cruise the beaches playing for tips always include a tuba or two.

Well, the sun has set over the vast Pacific, and it’s time to go down to dinner. Fresh lobster, chili rellenos, ensalada de aguacate, and Mexican pastries for desert! Thanks for joining us  for this year’s celebración de aniversario, everyone!