October 5, 2000 - Thursday
Today, was Harry's parents wedding anniversary. We've had several before, but this was the first with a child and things were, admittedly, a little different. We've had anniversaries when we've gone out and ones when we've stayed at home, but we've always with something of a plan for the evening, albeit often a spontaneous one. I suppose the exception was our fourth anniversary when we were both sick with colds, but we enjoyed ourselves with a special dinner and TV on the couch under a blanket. One of the best anniversaries at home was our sixth when we order oysters from a local fish restaurant and had them with champagne and little else on the floor.

This year we had two priorities that overshadowed a private celebration, however. The first was Harry's dinner, though we could have gotten a sitter and gone out. In fact, Harry's grandmother asked about watching him this evening, but we declined on account of the second reason. We're going away for the weekend tomorrow and simply needed to get ready and with Harry, there's just more to do to prepare. Unfortunately, there was really no postponing our getting ready, because we're plannning to leave for the cabin in the early afternoon in order to beat both the traffic and others that might need to be let inside. We're the de facto hosts and the ones with the key.

This is an annual retreat this time of the year and always a lovely weekend with several friends and extended family. My siblings and I all have keys to the cabin, but circumstances are a little different this year with Harry and his new cousin. Cousin Ben and his parents aren't expected this year for obvious reasons and Harry's attendance has the potential to turn a adult weekend of leasure time in the mountains for a bunch of no-kid acquaintances into something unknown, especially since the cabin has few walls and Harry's sleep habits are erratic.

After getting almost everything packed for tomorrow, Harry's mother and I finally settled down for some aknowledgement of our special day. But, perhaps that's how it is with a baby: there's always more details to attend to and less time for each other. I guess the trick is making the most out of that time and maybe that 's all the plan we really need.


Comments, opinions?