25 Years Later

To celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, Joanna and I spent several days taking in the sights of Paris. That week in April of 1995 was a rainy one, but we didn’t let that keep us from soaking up (pun intended!) all that The City of Light had to offer.

Paris 1995

In her journal, Joanna described my anniversary gift to her (pictured top of page): “…Following a dessert of crème brûlée and Irish coffee, Bob surprised me with a pair of diamond earrings – shades of #20 when he presented me with my cherished anniversary ring!

In my mind, the pièce de résistance of that meal was Joanna’s gift to me. Ever since a child, I’ve had a fascination with the old Army jeep. For any number of reasons, I was never able to act on that desire. So, she gave me two Matchbox jeeps (top of page). Over the last twenty-five years, those little cars sat on a bookshelf as a reminder that “maybe someday…”

Recently, that someday arrived!

Today’s Jeep Wrangler traces it lineage back to the wartime 1940’s. As the Jeep website describes that evolution: “For over 75 years the Jeep® Brand has been indelibly linked to freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion. Our core values are embodied in every Jeep Brand vehicle’s DNA. Throughout our storied history, Jeep Brand vehicle owners have learned that Go Anywhere. Do Anything.® is a way of life, not just a slogan.” How could I not have one!

My new Wrangler JL is a far cry from the Jeep CJ of the 40’s. It has most of the modern touches I’ve grown accustomed to in the vehicles I’ve owned over the years –  air, power windows and doors, remote access, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, etc., so I’m not really “roughing it”. And I will probably never go off-roading or embrace the “way of life” embodied in Jeep’s non-slogan. But I can lower the top/windows, and even remove the doors to go for a spin down Tampa’s backroads!

Version 2

Joanna would be happy to know I’ve realized my dream this late in life. Knowing that Megan, our eldest granddaughter, is in possession of those earrings would make Joanna even happier. In a text to me the other day, Megan wrote: “…I made Granny’s cookie pie for a potluck today so I’ll be wearing the earrings while we eat the pie at work!

One of my favorite photos of Megan – sporting the earrings.

Meg T'giving 2015

All is well in my world.