Time stopped for Rocky and me when we married that first year. However, it didn’t stop anywhere else and before we got used to the idea of it all our first anniversary popped up. We had said we would go down to Eureka Springs every year after our marriage and retrace our steps. I heard once that you can never go back to a perfect place in time……..and we found that was right.

We were in a tornado watch all the way and in some places we could see hail piled up along the roadway. We managed to arrive at Eureka Springs about the same time we did the year before when we exchanged our vows. We checked into the same motel and then drove out to the Chapel of the Angels.

To our surprise, they were building cabins on the grounds to accommodate couples who wanted to stay there after their wedding or to return for anniversaries. It was a beautiful area atop a high Ozark Mountain looking across miles of other mountains, hills or whatever you prefer to call them. The pastor was sweating and in the process of completing another cabin and his wife was busy getting materials to him and the other carpenter.

They were very cordial but we could tell we hadn’t impressed their lives as they had impressed ours……..in truth, it was a special time that could not be duplicated. We took our leave after a few moments and with one last look around, we left. We drove back to town and decided to eat at the restaurant in the motel where we were staying…….and eat in the Gazebo where we ate our wedding supper. The steak and wine were excellent. The waitress we had befriended a year ago was off that night and we didn’t see any other familiar faces.

The next day we took in a couple of Antique Shops and some pictures of the beautiful homes…….then decided to check out and go on to Branson. It just wasn’t as magical as it had been a year ago. When we arrived in Branson we got settled and then called for tickets to see Andy Williams and Glen Campbell. Once into the theatre the storm found us and there was horrendous thunder and noise but the show was terrific and we enjoyed the evening immensely. People say Andy is over the hill and ought to hang it up but we don’t care…..we’re over the hill too so it was great fun to enjoy the two of them who were obviously enjoying the bashing from each other on stage.

The next day we packed up to leave and stopped for a good breakfast before heading home. We talked about how different it was a year ago and although it was not the same…. it was good to come back and see how far we’d come. Our main interest now was our little home and our pets……..and of course getting to know each other in the process. The young Rocky and Esther had changed over the years and the changes appeared now and then….in a mature Rocky and Esther.

We found you can’t go back…. like they say…..but it’s OK. No one should want to keep going back to the same place as if things could never be better…..it should be just a starting line for a long journey. A marriage doesn’t stagnate so that you have to keep returning to a place on the map and the calendar……it’s a journey that keeps finding new understanding and appreciation for each other..... with the promise there will always be that special connection whether you are near or far from each other.

Love is not a time and a place……it’s a matter of the heart.

Until the next time,
Essentially Esther