Celebrating our anniversary

We had a great day. Miles’ health care needs prevent us from going out very often, so we “went for it”. We began with breakfast out at La Madeleine, a little French café near here. Then we went to the movies. We saw “Rocky Balboa”, the final installment in the Rocky series – my interest had been piqued when I read / listened to Sly Stallone’s comments related to why he made this film:

"I think as a young person you tend to think that the world somewhat revolves around you, that you can recover from anything, that you tend to have this kind of vim and vigor and energy to take on the world on your own shoulders. Well, after you've been knocked down a few times and the world has shown you it's dark side, you realize that you need guidance, you need God's word, you need spiritual help and that's when your journey will begin."

So I, as I get older, I realize how - very much - I rely upon Jesus, the word of God, and his support and how I pass it on to my children because I want them to learn at an early age by - usually find out that we have to sometimes learn the hard way and then it really takes hold and that's what this is all about. "

So anyway – we saw that and enjoyed it – Alicia said it was good except for the boxing – which isn’t as funny as it sounds because the boxing is really just the last maybe 15 minutes of the film. It was a very good, inspirational, motivational story line.

Then we strolled the mall for half an hour before going back in to see “The Pursuit of Happyness”, which is a true story about a guy who went from homeless to a Dean Witter stock broker. It was a good film too.

Then we had about 4 hours. We shopped; and we exchanged a Christmas CD – Alicia and I had both given each other the new CD by Sting, which is very unique - a CD of music composed by John Dowland (1563-1626), performed on the lute. We are such fans of Renaissance and Medieval music that we both wanted to get this CD, but we didn’t need two. So we exchanged one for Carly Simon’s CD “Into White” – a CD of cover versions including Oh Susanna, Jamaica Farewell, Over the Rainbow, Manha de Carnival (from “Black Orpheus”), Scarborough Fair, etc. Really nice stuff. Then we had a really enjoyable dinner at Saltgrass Steakhouse before returning to the theatre for the 7:15 showing of “Dreamgirls”, which we had seen on stage about 15 years ago. It was very good – a little language, but a good story and great music. It’s a fictionalized version of the story of the Supremes.

Alicia and I realized that, since we saw “The Nativity Story”, Charlotte’s Web”, and “Night at the Museum” all last month, we’ve been to the movies 6 times in the last 5 weeks – which is more than we usually see in a year or more.

All in all, a fun and unique 12 hours. Miles was picked up from school by a friend and then he and EC had a most enjoyable evening together, and all was well at home.

Now - on to year number 28...