Believe it or not! Yesterday we celebrated out 55th anniversary with a delicious, exotic, satisfying meal from the Golden Buddha delivered to our front door. We haven't had any meals delivered before now, in part because the restaurants in our area don't tempt us. But yesterday was worth celebrating and we decided to go for an old favorite.

When we married Mr. Maven and I had a little more than a year left to finish our undergraduate degrees. Complications set in--his part time job disappeared and I was pregnant, which we welcomed. While it was a challenge, we learned of it just about the time he received his letter from the U.S. Selective Service to show up at the Pasadena Greyhound bus station on a certain date. His deferments had run out, but a letter from my doctor cancelled the draft notice. Long story in between, but in 1970 he graduated from law school and I received my BA--going part time for a few years--after baby #2 followed a little earlier than we planned. Then, once settled with our house in the suburbs, I started law school and finished in 1977. Our life has been one of surprises, happy times, difficult times, and sad times--and we never could have predicted everything that happened to us.

Actually, I had no idea we'd still be around to celebrate #55. And in reasonably good health so far. Who could have predicted the events of the last few year, especially the pandemic? Who would have predicted he'd grow a beard and I'd have long hair again? In the last few weeks I've sometimes asked myself, "Is it 1968 again?"

So here's our toast. After we ate we opened our fortune cookies and I started laughing. How appropriate for me.