Roaring Twenty

Some time around our engagement, my father offered me some sage and sober words. "It's the struggles that make a marriage," he said. And in the early years of our marriage, when the kids were young and both money and sleep seemed scarce, I thought I understood what he meant. But it wasn't until the Pandemic and all the anxiety and heartbreak that followed, that I truly got it. Because on the days when we felt completely overwhelmed by events that were crushing, Allen and I were able to lean on each other and keep going. And while I wish we hadn't had to experience all that's transpired the past two years, I'm incredibly grateful that Allen has been by my side through it all.

So while there hasn't been a lot to celebrate the past few months (aside from Noa's graduation, my birthday, and a slew of concerts, of course), we figured for our 20th wedding anniversary we should go big and leave home. Mom Mom and Grandpa Don graciously volunteered to watch the kids, and the two of us headed back to the Inn at Little Washington to ring in the third decade of our marriage.

We had planned to get there early to explore the sights of Washington, VA, but a work call and a lot of rain delayed our arrival. Still we were greeted with a lovely tea service and were able to briefly check out the grounds before the skies opened again (and our room was ready). This was the third time we celebrated an anniversary at the Inn and the second time we stayed in the Julia Childs room, which has two balconies, a soaking tub, and a definitive french vibe. 

We dressed for our 8:15 seating and proceeded to order off of competing tasting menus (Allen went with the Gastronaut's and the wine pairing while I opted for the Good Earth and a couple of nice glasses of Sancerre). And while every course was pretty amazing (ok, the Graffiti Eggplant Cutlet Slathered with Black Olive Tapenade was merely good), Allen's clear winner was, a Chartreuse of Savoy Cabbage and Maine Lobster with Caviar Beurre Blanc (so delicious he forgot to capture on film) while mine was the Sweet Bell Pepper Tartare in an Artichoke Bottom with Burrata and Parsley Vinaigrette. 

Feeling completely sated, we headed back to the room and crashed – seven courses will do that to a couple. Without a cat to demand food at the crack of dawn, I slept in, only waking once Allen intervened. We had breakfast at the Inn, packed up, and took in Skyline Drive before returning to the kids and married life in DC, which is a pretty great thing to return to.

(To see all of our pictures, click here.)