Dear Kenny,
When we met 17 years ago I never considered that someday I would write my last love letter to you. In fact, do you remember how everything stood still and the room seemed to spin around us, outside of us? How everyone present said there was electricity in the air ...that several commented the back of their necks tingled while we danced. Fate, kismet, serendipity - something was involved that night. Whatever it was I am forever grateful for this most incredible journey the past 17 years.
Oh, it wasn't always easy, but I think two people as passionately in love as we are spend a good amount of time passionately hating one another as well. But, in all reality, who remembers any of that at this juncture? I don't. All I seem to be able to remember are all the times we danced. Do you know that we randomly, often, music or no, danced for no reason at all? I never really put that together until I started looking through all our photo albums and remembering so many different things we did together.
One evening we stopped the car and in a bank parking lot on Memorial Drive we got out at 2:00 am and danced while on the radio INXS played "Elegantly Wasted". I am sure that we were, in fact, just that (the elegant part being questionable), but obviously we lived to dance another day.
No one can hold a candle to you, my dear, when it comes to traveling in style. Mr. Platinum SPG, British Airways Gold, Singapore Airlines Gold, driver here, driver there....nothing was ever too out of reach when it came to how you traveled first class, all the way. And I, by luck, was able to tag along...."anything for Madam". LOL. Our funny joke that lasted a lifetime. Your car awaits Madam.
In London, on one trip, we had that really quaint (barely held our luggage and us) hotel room. We went for drinks at the Swallow hotel...then promptly booked a three room suite and the concierge went to the other hotel and collected our things and brought them back to us. You went out to "run an errand". When you came back you asked me to go downstairs and get you a scotch and water. When I came back up I was met with a trail of rose petals from the door to the bubble bath you had drawn for me and a bottle of Vueve chilling on the side. And we danced and danced that night - with the full moon shining straight in the windows overlooking Brompton Road, Knightsbridge. The next day we went for the first time to Notting Hill where we danced through the weekend market made famous in the movie of the same name. We never made another trip to London that we didn't visit Notting Hill, it was certainly a favorite of ours. Many years later I was able to show Lauren our Notting Hill, what a joy that was.
Once, in Dharan, Saudi Arabia, at very first light prayer call, when we had yet to go to bed, we made a beeline for the Tammimi Safeway, bought coffee and croissants, then went to the Corniche and watched the sun rise while we danced on the shore of the Persian Gulf. I wore no abaya, in fact had on only a bathing suit, which in hindsight was probably not that great of an idea... but it sure was fun. And romantic. And exhilirating.
One night we stopped randomly in some desert sand, got out of the car and danced. When we got back in the car you let me drive back to the compound. I guess my baseball hat didn't hide the fact that I was female since we were followed by a rabid group of young men who didn't stop until the Al Zamil guards met them at the gates as they closed behind us and we were safe within the walls, laughing our heads off at our foolishness.
Bahrain. I can't even think of Bahrain without smiling. Our honeymoon. All twelve pieces of my luggage lost by British Airways. Our suite filled with flowers from BA to apologize for losing my luggage...seven days I was with one T-shirt and my traveling outfit. Room service coming by and very respectfully asking if they could please have some of their tables back. ..It never even occuring to us we might go and buy me some clothes so I could leave the room. Crazy love. Funnier still when all the luggage finally did show up and we had to fit all of it, six vases of flowers and us in the Toyota Corolla!! Those Saudi border guards just waved us right on by.
The most memorable trip to Bahrain was when we were at Senor Pacos one night and by chance in attendance was the Admiral of the Navy fleet assigned to the Persian Gulf. There were many Americans there, many friends of ours, and the Fillipino entertainer strummed...."Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie". We all stood on tables and chairs and sang every, single, word, with tears running silently down our faces. It became our anthem in a way...it was the first song we taught Lauren all the words. To this day we've been known to sing every, single, word when we hear it.
Doha, Qatar. Maxims. Need I say more? Private elevator from our suite to get there...went so often we had our own table, waiter, and after the first visit never actually ordered again...they just brought food to us. While we danced. People thought we were crazy but we weren't. Just passionate. Just in love. Just no one but us existed.
Oh, and you certainly played several great rounds of golf at the Doha Country Club. Haha...The fact that I kept score is a secret we've kept for many years now! You are welcome of course for that stellar score you posted.
I could never forget Oman. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Remember the Sultan's Palace? Only one way in and one way out. A "G-30 summit" (I think that is what it is called) happened there because from a security standpoint it was thought to be one of the best locations in the world. We cared nothing of security while we danced on the grounds overlooking the Gulf of Oman. The only security I needed was you.
Stateside in Key West was certainly memorable. We got stone crab claws, mustard sauce, fresh bread and wine, then sat on the floor of our hotel room and had a picnic feast! It was so delicious we did the same the next night. After dinner we strolled on the beach and danced while overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Christmas in New York City. That was a dream come true for me...for all of us really. Remember how I went online looking for tickets to "Wicked" and we ended up with some hotel "package". We never ever expected the "package" would include a five room suite at the Waldorf Astoria overlooking Lexington and Fifth!! Amazing experience...me, you and Lauren all danced as soon as we got inside and saw our digs for the week! I think we had room service several times just so each one of us could have "waldorf salad". And we pass the crazy on to Lauren!
We all went to Ireland in 2005 ... we tucked Lauren in one evening, grabbed two glasses of wine and danced in the garden here.
What a fabulous trip!
In fact we enjoyed it so much, we went back for Christmas 2007 and brought mom and Jim along. Now that was quite the trip! Remember how much we loved the Dunraven Arms in Adare? And the huge full moon that looked over the field behind our suite....and the beautiful fireplace that took the winter chill out of the room while we danced at midnight on Christmas Eve.
Dancing...always dancing...
(To Be Continued ~ )
All my love, spajunkie