The other day I had a lovely luncheon with a very good friend. We talked, over frosted Margaritas, about the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of our immediate lives. Thinking back, it was one of the best luncheons I have had in a very long time. This made me reminisce about past moments that were some of the best moments of my life.
When my husband (since we have been separated for a while I now call him my was-band or the husband that was) and I were first married we lived in Europe. We had lots of visitors from the states. Three or four different friends on different occasions told us over dinner at one of our many favorite restaurants that, that evening with my husband and myself was the best evening of their lives. At the time I was flattered but later I realized what a great compliment it was to the both of us. “The BEST night of their lives.” What makes it an even greater compliment was that this same statement came from different people on different visits. One of the visitors was a man that I had dated before I met my husband. He was a very nice man and I liked him a lot. When John (let’s just call him John) found out that I had become engaged he religiously called me once a week. He would call and ask, ”Are you still getting married?” I answered, “Yes, I am still getting married.” He would say, “Okay” and then he would hang up. This happened every week until I finally got married. He was invited to the wedding but he didn’t come. He did send me a nice gift, which I still have 36 years later. After my husband and I had been married about a year John contacted me and asked if he could come for a visit. Of course, I said yes. We had a lovely time. We showed him the town. He stayed in our guest room. On his last night we all went to dinner. During the dinner John announced that it was the best night of his life. We took him to the train the next day and we said our goodbyes. That was the last time I ever saw him. We lost touch however, I heard he has become very successful and I know that now, he is someone’s wonderful husband and I’m sure he is a devoted father to some lucky children. I think John wanted to see if my husband and I were really happy. I was so touched that on our last night … John said that it was the happiest night of his life. What a compliment.
I have been adding up some of my best moments of my life.
The Best Romantic Dinner: When my husband and I decided to get engaged my husband lived in the North of France. I flew to France and we drove down to the South of France for our engagement trip. On the way to Monaco (where we met) we stopped in a small village restaurant for a late lunch or rather an early dinner. The proprietor told us that the restaurant was closed for a wedding. We must have looked dejected… because he then waved to his wife to sit us outside at a table under a large tree. His wife and daughters served us the same meal that was prepared for the wedding. It was magnificent. The best fish I have ever had in my life, perfect legumes… salad, fruit, cheese, and Floating Island for desert. We toasted with wine and Champagne. Music from the wedding played in the background. My husband gave me my engagement ring at that very moment. It was perfection. This was the BEST Romantic Dinner of my life.
The Best Kiss: My boyfriend (in my 20’s), lived in a city not far from New York. We met in Chicago and he moved to finish his studies in Boston. We decided to meet in New York. Two of my best friends were in New York at the same time. We all met for drinks and dinner. I had just walked to the train station to meet my boyfriend. He was tall and handsome and I was madly in love. On the walk to dinner under a street lamp on a nondescript street in New York I had, THE BEST kiss of my life.
Best News: I had been married for six years. They were difficult years as my husband and I were struggling to start a business. I always wanted children but I felt we weren’t prepared financially to have any children. I was 36 and started to worry that I was getting older and might never be able to have a child. Our future seemed to be a bit brighter. I stopped the pill and nothing happened. We were prepared to be a married couple without children. When something seemed different. I took a pregnancy test and that lovely pink strip on the test told us that we were going to be parents. Eight years later we had the best news of our lives again. Two times, two children, which was. The BEST NEWS of my life.
BEST JOB: I got my first college degree in Europe. When I came home I worked for two different employers. I liked both of my jobs, however, I wanted to strive for my dream job. I went back to college to get a degree in Communications. I wanted to work in the entertainment field. I loved my classes and I got very good grades. One of my professors recommended me for an internship at C.B.S. in Chicago. I applied thinking I didn’t have a chance.. somehow I managed to get the job. Not any job. I got to produce one to three segments every two weeks for a show called “Common Ground”. Each intern got to think up the segment, contact the guests, write the intros and the questions and we did all of the research. We had to meet with the hosts and we each produced our own segments sitting in the booth with the director. This was heaven. We had the privilege of meeting some of the most famous people in Chicago and the world. The other interns with whom I worked were marvelous people. We all had the same sense of humor and we laughed though out each workday. It was THE BEST JOB of my life.
Okay, that was the past, and the past is over… however, we are still here. We all still have a lot of living to do. The best moments don’t have to end here do they?? I hope not. I hope that there are new vistas to explore. There should be more “Best Moments” ahead of us. What I meant to say is, that those were the best moments … SO FAR.
Until Next Week…
Is There Sex After 60? (Navigating Single Life After 60) 