from the wild

Before we were in the same vase, we lived separately. That's our Siberian iris in the foreground, the lusher, regular iris behind.

30 years together

What to do on your 30th anniversary? A little poetry in flowers at daybreak.

more family

Several moments in our family story converged and brought us together, 14 of us, Nov. 10 in Harrisburg. I won't try to prioritize.

Nov. 10 was the 27th anniversary of Dad's passing. Photo 4. It was the return from Syria of Mel, one week after Gary's death for Evie, and the first evening out for Loretta after back surgery.

Photo 3. Another moment was the visit of Oregonians Bonnie and Chris. And, photo 2, it was the one-year anniversary of Joel and Stephanie. We anchored them at the end of the Chinese restaurant table. All in all it looked like this, photo 1.

anniversary 29

The wrong picture for the right couple. It's late. We're tired. So let's make this photo so funny it's memorable.

Ill-placed components--1. three pink roses, gorgeous, but placed too high; 2. new shoes, not exactly anniversary gift but bought on the day, the 19th, and off to side; 3. cards, okay; 4. box of Wolfgang candy, corny, but part of the deal.

Our smiles--perfect and natural. Yeah, actually, this is the photo that says it all and says it right. We couldn't have done a more noble, more right, more beautiful thing 29 years ago.

(The remote is in my right hand.)