Twosome

I like to joke with JG that we became this brand-new, infant person when we got married. When we struggled with learning to live with each other, I reminded myself that we were only six months old, after all. I should have been satisfied that we could see objects 10 inches away and locate the source of sounds, much less figuring out what aspects we wanted in our first home purchase. That’s a lot to expect of a six-month-old.

Currently, I think we’re at the metaphorical stage of standing with two feet together and following simple directions, because JG and I celebrated our anniversary today. We’re two years old!

Today was JG’s last session of his graduate class (woo!), but it met from 6-10pm (boo!). Needless to say, a lovely romantic dinner was not in the cards this year, at least on the exact anniversary date. Instead, I took the day off from work and we went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home of the Pennsylvania Dutch and some fantastic outlet shopping. I believe the traditional second anniversary gift is cotton; we definitely came through with that one in the form of polo shirts, khaki shorts, and summer-weight sweaters. There’s something heartwarming about exchanging high fives to celebrate great bargains with your husband before he grabs your hand to stake out the next store.

After a lunch of giant burgers, JG and I faced off at a nearby mini golf course and I felt like we were back on vacation again, except that I had transformed into a mini-golf master! After the fourth hole, I was I was two strokes ahead of JG; by the tenth hole, we were tied.  I was thoroughly unsuccessful in hiding my delight and my celebratory shimmies were not exactly sportsmanlike. But, as it usually does, karma came back to bite me and I ended up losing by ten strokes. Have no fear: JG is still the household mini-golf champion and the universe is at peace.

As a mutual anniversary present to each other, JG and I bought an ice cream maker and Perfect Scoop, a book of ice cream recipes for which I have only heard enthusiastic recommendations. We inaugurated the machine with a mint chocolate chip number from the included recipe booklet, but tonight, when JG came home, we had homemade tiramisú ice cream, courtesy of our new book. Mm.

Even though I would have enjoyed a nice dinner out, I smile when I think back to how we talked smack at the golf course, pointed out funny signs (“Water for Horses HERE”; “Buy – Repair – Sell: Phonographs and Music Boxes”; “Amish Stuff, Etc.”), cringed at the “sale prices” at J. Crew, and dipped potato wedges into honey mustard. If anything makes me happy about this anniversary, it’s the confirmation that I love spending time with JG. I never have more fun than when I am with him, so I think it’s fitting that we’ll have spent this day laughing and eating ice cream together.

We’ll fall down occasionally – being a toddler, it’s only natural – but figuring things out together makes things less scary. Terrible twos? Nah.

(Love you, kiddo.)