We had our 22nd anniversary a few weeks back. Our night had a long lead up. I was worried that Jason wouldn’t want to go. He has had a rotten few weeks at work recently. Been finding it hard to get back into the swing of work after our holiday in Forster. Jason has been a little depressed, again.
In the end his mum Grace looked after the kids and we went with our overnight bags to celebrate 22 years of marriage in style and stayed in a luxury room at the Casino in Sydney. Sounds scary when I typed 22 years of marriage. So many years. We have had our ups and downs but I love Jason. At times I still see that sparkle in his quirky smile and just hope he still loves me.
I first saw that quirky smile and sparkle when we met 23ish years ago. It was a uni friends party. I was determined to not get involved with anyone. I wanted to do the overseas holiday with Joanne. But I missed out and I didn’t get my gap year. Instead I got this quirky smile and sparkle that made me melt. Ok, the passion got me too. There is nothing like new relationship passion.
Our first few weeks we weren’t out of each other’s company. We would sleep in late and miss early uni classes. Jason had at the time discovered Supertramp, a 1970s popular band. Goodness knows why he had just discovered them in the late ’80s. Anyway, they became my favourate band too. Our song ‘Give a little bit‘ was played over and over. We’d sit in cafes drinking coffee holding hands. We’d be in the library trying to study but would have to dash off to hold each other. We would sit in our favourate bar and drink cheap wine and talk about everything. No subject was taboo. Jason was caring and not rushed like my previous boyfriends. Sex was great. We felt so comfortable. We were in love.
Aside, I heard ‘Give a little bit‘ in the store earlier this year buying the kids’ school shoes. Was not sure if I should laugh or cry. Weird hearing your favourate songs as piped department store music.
Now 22 years of marriage later, I wished I could see that smile and sparkle again in Jason. Hopefully on our anniversary night too. I suppose after three kids some of the sparkle has to make way for all the things that marriage brings, work, kids and responsibility.
We went to this really great Italian restaurant friends has told me about in Darling Harbour. So many people celebrating and having fun at all the other tables, except us it felt. An older couple were quietly talking to each other one side and a young couple next to us looked like us when we were first dating. Holding hands she’d giggle, he would give her a cheeky smile. Then the restaurant found out it was our 22nd anniversary and we were fussed over. They asked to see photos of our kids. One of the waiters made me blush saying I could not have a daughter in her early 20s. My glass of wine was never empty. Jason just loved his meal we were just full. But they gave us a surprise Tiramisu dessert to share. Which just happens to be Jason’s favourate. Now the sparkle returned. The wine has flowed to an end and it was time to leave the restaurant.
So the evening moved to the Casino. I guess it made sense staying overnight there. I am not a gambler but I can see how addictive it can be. Jason, despite having a fair amount of alcohol was quite logical when we purchased the chips. The accountant in him I guess. We had $50 each to spend. If we lost it all, it was gone and we would have a good night. If we won, bonus.
We decided to play roulette. I’d bet evens and he would place chips on the numbers. I was not doing well but Jason was having the luck. He kept winning more than losing. Then I changed my betting switching from red or black and started to win. We were having a lot of fun. An older couple who were at the table next to us in the restaurant purchased us a surprise bottle of bubbly to celebrate our anniversary in the Casino. We were so flattered. They didn’t look like they were shy of a few pennies by the way. They had a glass with us before they left.
We went back to the roulette table. Jason was on a roll, again. He’d win a few, lose one and win again. I got to around $100 and had enough. So joined Jason’s side. That sparkle was well and truly back. He looked at me at one stage and I saw that smile again. My Jason was back. But was it the joy of winning at the table or was it me or all of the above. I can see how gambling can be addictive.
In the end he won around $360 from the table. We cashed in our chips and went to bed quite late for a old couple married 22 years in our very nice hotel room. We had a fun night.
What type of gambler are you? And how do you keep the sparkle happening in your marriage?
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