Inevitably around this time of year as we approach our wedding anniversary on March 29th, my sweetheart does the math and coos into my ear, "Do you realize that you have been married to me for more than half of your life?" I smile and tell and her, "I love a girl who is good with figures".
This year after she did the usual calculations, she informed me that I had been married more years than I had been single. She then asked what I wanted to do for the big 3-Oh. Luckily for me, I've learned a few things in my going-on-30-years of marriage, and I had already anticipated her question and had an answer. I suggested we spend a few days on the coast. How about a trip to Galveston, the oldest city in Texas? She said "Hmmm", which I interpreted as "My plan wins".
We are not big planners to the infinite detail, but hotel reservations were made ahead of time, and after that, the priorities were somewhat nebulous, though they included; A) eat lots of seafood, B) tour a World War II submarine like the ones in the squadron that my Grandfather Wilkin commanded during the war, maybe eat some more seafood and enjoy some fun drinks on the beach, and then see what caught our attention (the cheap fishing charter was not running during off-season, so we did not get a chance to catch some saltwater fish).
I had the SUV washed and loaded up on Easter Sunday while Sue did glorious things at church. She came home by mid-day, quickly packed and then we were off! A straight shot south on I-45 for 301 miles got us to our hotel.
Easter dinner was a Gaido's (since 1911). Gulf oysters on the half shell in garlic sauce for appetizers was a very good start for us.
The next morning it was a trip to Seawolf Park, where the city of Galveston had the USS Cavalla, a WWII Submarine set up for a self-guided tour as well as destroyer escort used during the war to hunt Japanese submarines. Touring these naval war machines was a moving touchstone event that brought me a bit closer to a part of family history of which I knew very little.
Back to the hotel to slip into beach clothes and walk across Seawall Blvd just outside our door to stroll along the sands edging the warmish waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Then a little guilty pleasure of an afternoon toddy, and then we had to make a choice for the location of our next seafood dinner.
In the morning we wandered to the far eastern end of Galveston Island and found an isolated beach and bird sanctuary, where we moseyed at a pleasurable pace, viewing a variety of avian wildlife, and the shipping traffic offshore.
Of course, more seafood and then some beach time before we headed for the historic downtown area known as "The Strand". We had lunch (not seafood) and did a bit of window shopping before we came back to the hotel and selected our next seafood dinner.
It was a very good 3-0 anniversary. I Put together a little slideshow presentation for those interested in a more thorough look at what we did in Galveston. Just click the arrow, sit back and I do believe you'll enjoy it.
This year after she did the usual calculations, she informed me that I had been married more years than I had been single. She then asked what I wanted to do for the big 3-Oh. Luckily for me, I've learned a few things in my going-on-30-years of marriage, and I had already anticipated her question and had an answer. I suggested we spend a few days on the coast. How about a trip to Galveston, the oldest city in Texas? She said "Hmmm", which I interpreted as "My plan wins".
We are not big planners to the infinite detail, but hotel reservations were made ahead of time, and after that, the priorities were somewhat nebulous, though they included; A) eat lots of seafood, B) tour a World War II submarine like the ones in the squadron that my Grandfather Wilkin commanded during the war, maybe eat some more seafood and enjoy some fun drinks on the beach, and then see what caught our attention (the cheap fishing charter was not running during off-season, so we did not get a chance to catch some saltwater fish).
I had the SUV washed and loaded up on Easter Sunday while Sue did glorious things at church. She came home by mid-day, quickly packed and then we were off! A straight shot south on I-45 for 301 miles got us to our hotel.
Easter dinner was a Gaido's (since 1911). Gulf oysters on the half shell in garlic sauce for appetizers was a very good start for us.
 |
| Easter Dinner at Gaido's |
The next morning it was a trip to Seawolf Park, where the city of Galveston had the USS Cavalla, a WWII Submarine set up for a self-guided tour as well as destroyer escort used during the war to hunt Japanese submarines. Touring these naval war machines was a moving touchstone event that brought me a bit closer to a part of family history of which I knew very little.
Back to the hotel to slip into beach clothes and walk across Seawall Blvd just outside our door to stroll along the sands edging the warmish waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Then a little guilty pleasure of an afternoon toddy, and then we had to make a choice for the location of our next seafood dinner.
 |
| USS Cavalla WW II Submarine Tour |
Of course, more seafood and then some beach time before we headed for the historic downtown area known as "The Strand". We had lunch (not seafood) and did a bit of window shopping before we came back to the hotel and selected our next seafood dinner.
 |
| Strolling along the Galveston Seawall |
 |
| The Galveston Seawall |
 |
| A non-seafood mufaltta sandwich in the Historic Strand District of Galveston |
 |
| This time - Italian seafood for dinner |
It was a very good 3-0 anniversary. I Put together a little slideshow presentation for those interested in a more thorough look at what we did in Galveston. Just click the arrow, sit back and I do believe you'll enjoy it.
 |
 |
| Customize a free photo slideshow |
