One Billion Seconds . . . and Counting

Usually, the only excuse I have for getting all gussied up in a dress, tights, and heels is to attend a wedding reception or to celebrate an anniversary. But what about plans to go out on a special, post-holiday weekend date with my hubby?

Sure, why not?

So, donning a fit-and-flare burgundy-colored dress, red wine-hued tights, and a pair of pretty, two-toned burgundy heels, off I went with my better half to a hip, sleek SLC restaurant for our dinner date.

Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Brian looked pretty dapper in dark dress pants, fancy shoes, a burgundy button-down shirt and tie. Yep, we were matchy-matchy.

Arriving at our destination, we relinquished our vehicle to the friendly, helpful valet before heading into the Urban Hill restaurant. As I opened the door, I was confused when Brian said, “I think there are a couple of people inside who want to say hi to you.”

What? I didn’t know what he was referring to at all until I spotted someone waving and smiling at me. Catherine! It was my good friend and her husband from the Puget Sound. What a wonderful surprise! There were hellos, hugs, and exclamations of “Oh, how wonderful to see you!”

All four of us were eventually seated at our reservation time, but I was perplexed that the hostess had led us to a couple of grouped tables. Oh well . . .

And then I looked up to see someone new gesture and smile at me. It took a moment, but my brain finally registered that another friend and his wife were at the same restaurant as us. It seemed like a pleasant coincidence until six more friends approached us, sat at our tables, made introductions, handed me gifts, and wished me a happy birthday. I responded, “Thank you! But it isn’t my birthday.”

I was still bewildered about what was happening until someone told me that it was a surprise party that Brian had planned in advance. Apparently, everyone had been sworn to secrecy. Catherine admitted that she’d almost spilled the beans recently when we were texting each other over the holidays.

Anyway, it turns out that Brian had organized this get-together by inviting five couples to join us on this evening. He’d coordinated things with the Urban Hill’s manager to select a custom, personalized, multi-course menu, and to reserve our tables, time slot, etc.

After all of the happy greetings were exchanged and everyone got settled in, there was a lot of animated chatter and catching up going on.

I took it all in.

The lovely, sleek ambiance of our surroundings. Sophistication. Busy, attentive waitstaff. Happy, satisfied patrons all around us, judging by all of the wide smiles on people’s faces. Wood. Glass. Cozy, curved, high-backed and upholstered booths scattered here and there to create strategically placed seating.

Our waitress finally approached our tables and invited us to peruse our menus and place our orders. Ooh, the choices! Spring rolls, Caesar salad, French onion soup. Fried goat cheese. Bison ribeye. Potato gnocchi. Pacifico striped bass. Niman Ranch pork Milanese. Sticky toffee pudding. Chocolate decadence.

When I mentioned to Brian that the menu included my favorite things, he said, “I know. I chose the menu with you in mind.”

To start, I chose the Lumpia Spring Rolls (yum!). For my second course, I took the French Onion Soup (of course!), and I selected the fish for my entrée (salivating here!). And, of course, dessert was a no-brainer: the Chocolate Decadence cake. Was there ever any question?

It was only after our waitress left to put in our orders—and after a lot of lively conversations transpired all around our tables—that I looked down at my menu again and noticed the words “Congratulations Brian and Kathy!” written across the top.

Huh.

Uh oh. My heart dropped just a tad.

What had I missed?

Right then, Brian interrupted everyone mid-conversation and told us he wanted to make a speech.

Um??? Double uh oh. I sank a bit further into my seat.

When everyone had quieted down and our eyes were riveted upon Brian, he thanked our friends for joining us and said that he was pleased to see—and to be with—all of them. He said something about how he’d reached a certain stage in his life and didn’t know what the future would hold for him. However, he expressed gratitude that I’d been by his side through it all and hoped that I’d continue to be with him for a long time.

So, this wonderful occasion of meeting with some of our very favorite people in the world; all of the pre-planning; the scrumptious food; the lively conversation; the secrecy and ultimate surprise; the beautiful, thoughtful gifts; and the deep feelings of love, gratitude, and of being truly blessed were all part of a very specific, celebratory occasion. A truly memorable milestone, albeit one that I couldn’t yet put my finger on.

So, what was it?

Brian explained that he had carefully calculated—far in advance—that shortly after 11:31 AM on the following day, he and I would be married for one billion seconds.

Who even thinks about these kinds of things‽ Whose brain works like that?

Well, Brian’s thought process is like that, and his mind works in unexpectedly romantic and sentimental ways from time to time. (Though, he might have spoiled it a bit when he mocked me for not “remembering” our special moment and chided me for not getting him anything. However, he said he anticipated as much, so he didn’t get me anything, either, though he pointed out that everybody else had brought something for me).

So, here we are.

Together for one billion seconds . . . and still counting.