SECRET DATE

About ten days ago, Debra called me at work and asked me if I could get the day off work on Friday, January 23rd.   She also asked that I not make any plans for that evening.

 

She wanted to take me out on a special date to celebrate our 13th anniversary.  She wouldn't tell me where she was taking me.  She wanted to keep it a secret and she didn't want me trying to guess what it was.  

 

Last night she unveiled her secret and took me to one of the best shows I have ever seen!  A group called Rain performed a tribute to The Beatles.  The auditorium was sold out.  The crowd was mostly old but incredibly energetic.  And we had a great time living in the past for a couple of hours.

 

When one of the performers asked how many in the audience saw The Beatles live on The Ed Sullivan Show, almost every hand went up that was attached to a gray-haired head.

 

 

The show was performed at the Collier Center in downtown Medford.

Before we entered the theater, we took a low-quality selfie in the dark outside the entrance.

Once inside, we had a great view from our third row balcony seats.

The performances and the multi-media effects were amazing.

Click the play tab below for a quick peek at what we saw.

 

COUNTING MARRIED YEARS BY THE BAKER'S DOZEN

Debra and I met in May 2001 when Debra came to the Providence Radiation Oncology Center as a cancer patient.  I was one of three radiation therapists who administered her treatments. 

 

During her six-week course, Debra and I discovered that we shared a common faith and a common marital status. 

 

Christian. 

 

Single.

 

In July, after she completed her final treatment, we went out on our first date.  In October, compelled by my personal belief that some couples should rush into marriage, I asked her to marry me.  She said "Yes".  In January, we tied the knot. 

 

That knot was tied thirteen years ago today. 

 

 

 

2001 

 

 

In August, within two months of our first date, I realized that I enjoyed wrapping my arms around this lady.
 

2002

 

 

In January, I said "I do".  She said the same thing.

In October, we were still happily married.

 

2003

 

Incredibly, not one picture was taken of the two of us together in 2003!

 

 

 

2004

 

 

In June, Debra holds Devon during Silas' 2nd birthday party at Garfield Park in Ashland.

In September, Debra was wearing braces and I was still enjoying wrapping my arms around this lady. 

 

2005

 

 

In June, we took a road trip that included a visit to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.

 

2006

 

 

In June, we traveled to Beaverton to celebrate the June birthdays of Bethany, Silas and Devon.

 

2007

 

 

In January, celebrating both five years of marriage and five years of Debra being cancer-free, we took a 30-mile downhill bicycle ride down Haleakala, a volcano in Maui.

 

2008

 

In June, we attended a cowboy barbecue with a bunch of old people from our church.

In July, we sat at the beach at the Port of Brooking-Harbor.

In August, we rode our bicycles from Medford to Ashland and back, stopping for a moment beside an old car that badly needed restoring.

 

2009

 

 

In February, on Valentine's Day, we attended a Valentine's Party with the same group of old people who were at the cowboy barbecue in June.

In April, after I returned from spending a week or so visiting Josh and Belinda and the grandkids in the Philippines, Debra picked me up at the airport in Medford.

In July, I took a picture of myself reflected in the lens of Debra's sunglasses.

In August, we visited Shore Acres State Park.

Also in August, we emerged from the Oregon Caves together.

In October, we enthusiastically got into the Halloween spirit.

 

2010

 

 

In April, we saw the Golden Dragon Acrobats perform at the Ginger Rogers Theater thanks to tickets we received as a gift from Tim and Bethany.

In July, we attended the Third Day concert at the Lithia Amphitheater.

In August, while attending the Sonoma County Fair with Judy, we rode the Ferris Wheel
high into the sky.

Later in August, we slept at the Caboose Motel at the Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir.

 

2011

 

 

In April, we spent Easter Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In August, we shared a milkshake at a 1950's-style restaurant, Lori's Diner, at Union Square in San Francisco.

In September, we attended a friend's birthday party that had a 1950's theme.  Prizes were given for "Best Costume for a Couple" and for "Best Dancing Couple".  After flaunting some of our cool swing moves, Debra and I humbly took home both prizes.

 

2012

 

 

In August, we visited Harris Beach in Brookings and watched the sun set slowly in the west.

In December, we downsized and moved from Medford to a much smaller house in Talent and bought a tiny little fake tree that would fit in our tiny little living room.

 

2013

 

 

In January, the hose to the ice maker in our refrigerator sprang a leak and, over time, slowly destroyed our kitchen floor and lower cabinets.  Fortunately, insurance paid for the repairs while we lived in a hotel for six weeks.

In May, we enjoyed the warm spring weather and some live music at our newly discovered local coffee shop, The Downtowne Coffeehouse.

In October, we posed for this picture and I have no idea why.

Later in October, we sat on the curb and watched the parade at the Talent Harvest Festival.

Again in October, we returned to The Downtowne Coffeehouse, indoors this time, as
outside temperatures decreased.

 

 

2014

 

 

In April, we attended Ashland Christian Fellowship's outdoor Easter Service at Lithia Park.

 

In May, we dined at our front row balcony table as we enjoyed a play at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre.

In June, we traveled to Woodburn to celebrate the three June birthdays.

2015

Yesterday we sat on our hearth to document with a photo what a married couple looks like on the eve of thirteen great years of marriage together.