Anniversary!

After Hurricane Harvey, we must have gone into autopilot (shock) because a month blurred by. Suddenly it was October. The time might have kept blurring by had it not been for our anniversary. It was time to celebrate something positive but first... it was time to say goodbye to Barry's BMW motorcycle...

Still covered in the silt from sitting in five feet of water, the insurance company deemed it totaled. With all the electronic components, they didn't feel it was salvageable.

The nicest tow truck driver from Kansas came to take her away. It pained him almost as much as it pained us... to see this beautiful bike dragged up the ramp. Due to the magnitude of lost vehicles, they were all going to be crushed so there was really no reason to treat it with kid gloves. But it was against his nature. At the last minute, I told Barry to grab the logo... as a memento.

... and then he said goodbye. It was emotional. Another thing gone. As long as it sat in the garage, it was like we still salvaged something. It hurt me to watch Barry looking at his bike leave on the back of a tow truck.

We wasted no time after the bike left... it was time to switch gears and look toward the future. It was time to rejoice in the fact that despite the loss, we still have each other! We jumped in the car and headed to City Centre. Our hotel was located right on the perimeter of this mostly pedestrian area. First stop? The Capital Grille, where a Stoli Doli was waiting for me! Such a delicious drink! It is a Stoli martini infused with fresh pineapple.

Next stop, pre-dinner drinks at Eddie V's. Jeremy (my son) made our reservation and shared with the manager our situation at home. They treated us like royalty! My cosmo was a work of art...

... and Barry had a Smoked Old Fashion. The waiter approached us with a cedar plank that had been lit to create smoke. He placed a glass upside to catch the smoke. When the glass is turned over, smoke slowly flows out and the waiter drops in a large, perfectly square ice cube that takes up almost the entire glass. He puts an orange on the ice and pours the mixture of Basil Hayden's Bourbon with a dash of chocolate bitters. Deliciousness! And to top it off... the manager picked up our tab!

Seated at a private window seat, the waiter walked toward us with a bottle of Caymus in his hand. I must have had a confused look on my face because he said, "you like this, right?" YES!!! but I thought I must be dreaming that a bottle was right before me... turns out Jeremy bought it as a surprise.

After an incredible dinner of bone in filet for Barry and a Chilean Sea Bass for me, desssert was served. Bananas Foster and Hot Chocolate Godiva Cake were placed in front of us. Our eyes were bugging out of our heads! When the waiter lit the Banana's Foster, I saw the writing... "Houston Strong" on the plate. I got a little teary... the second plate said, "Happy Anniversary".

The waiter insisted on a picture... I was so stunned at the way they were spoiling us, I would have forgotten! Yes, we still have the most important thing, each other!

Our meal was complete and it was time for the check... I opened the little black check case and inside was a check for $.01 and a card signed by all of the employees. That's when the tears began to flow. Life was continuing to be surreal but this was in a good way... Service impecable, food incredible... and hearts like I've never seen.

The flowers on the cover were at the table when we arrived. When we finished crying, we got out of our seats and shook hands with the manager. As he was telling us everything was going to be okay in time, the waiter ran up and asked if I liked the flowers... I didn't realize he had picked them out especially for us. Looking around at the other table, I realized no other table had a large arrangement. Another special touch... Eddie V's is a top-notch organization!