How did 30 years go by in the blink of an eye? Brian and I just got home from a 30th anniversary trip - to Niagara Falls. We had a blast! I had been there as a youngster, but Brian never had. I will admit sheepishly that I was not as excited as I have been about a lot of our other travels - let's face it - we have been to some pretty cool places. BUT - I was so wrong! We stayed on the Canadian side in an awesome room overlooking the whirlpool gorge. I managed to freak out the kids - mainly Bethany - with my enthusiastic phone call about the excitement of their upgrade to a room with a huge heart-shaped jacuzzi tub surrounded by mirrors - I guess it was too much information!   She has now threatened to call from their honeymoon in August - oops!

Well - one of the best parts I didn't anticipate was the drive up to the Falls. We talked and relaxed and  laughed and then listened to the tapes of "The DaVinci Code". I had read the book, but Brian hadn't. We had brought our EFM readings and our bibles were in the backseat, I looked up things and we replayed bits and just generally enjoyed listening while loving the scenery. We did regular sight-seeing - the Maid of the Mist is always an awesome experience, going behind the falls, the butterfly conservatory, the floral clock, and the weather was cool and comfortable. AND we went to a glass blowing studio where they make cranberry glass that is really unique that has 22 karat gold in it - very luminesent and rare. An artist from Italy does this - AND Brian found a vase I loved and bought it for me, and he went to the glass blower, Sebastian, and he signed it for us. It had been blown the day before - on our actual anniversary. How neat!

Our anniversary dinner was so cool - on the top of the Skylon Tower at 54 stories - it has a revolving restaurant, and Friday night there are fireworks over the falls. Well - I backed into the time, and we made reservations for when we estimated we would be right there for the 10:00 fireworks. Brian figured it was too much of a gamble - how would we know where in the revolutions we would be at 10?  I, on the other hand, never really worried - when we got there we were led to a seat about 1/4 turn off from my predictions, but it didn't bother me a bit - I figured it would all work out. AND - it did! It was sunset and absolutely breathtaking. The food was incredible, as was the wine from a vineyard we had visited that day. And lo and behold - right smack dab outside of our window (did I mention we had a window seat?!!) were the fireworks at 10:00. Later when we had come down (little yellow elevators that looked like bugs running up and down the outside of the tower - I have white knuckles to show for THAT ride)  Brian looked up and counted - "hmm - 80 windows and the fireworks were right outside ours!"  My very favorite thing that happened, though, was that right in back of us a were a couple, and he proposed to her. At the end of the night, Brian went over to them and told them we couldn't help but overhear, and if they were half as happy as we were after 30 years, they would have a wonderful life. How sweet is that? It is a not like Brian to insert himself like that, but it made my day!

We drove the next day up to Niagara-on-the-Lake -  on the shore of Lake Ontario. What a pretty little town! Not marred by fast-food places, it is a throw-back to earlier times. We toured 2 vineyards and bought a lot of wine to take home - most notable was the Ice Wine - I developed a real fondness for that kind of wine in Germany and France. I bought some things for my apartment in NY, and we just had a lovely day. We also had a wonderful dinner another night in the huge casino there, and left a little money in their slot machines as well - although we played for quite awhile. Another night we went to a Canadian dinner and show that was goofy, but fun. Real French Canadian food, and it was so relaxing to just lean into the silliness of it all. The shuttle bus from our hotel made a continuous loop around to all the areas along the falls, parking is difficult, so it was easy to hop on and off. We used it every day and night. It was driven by a man named Jimmy, who played cool music from the 40's very loudly. He looked like Gene Wilder and was so exuberant and fun, it was just a blast to get on with him - here we were driving past the illuminated falls, everyone singing at the top of our lungs and just grinning from ear to ear. There was no place I would have wanted to be and no-one I would have wanted to be with than Brian. Our last morning, Brian walked over a bridge to an island, while I stayed behind at the American Falls. I sat alone right near the falls doing morning prayer, and it was an incredible experience - who can possibly deny the existence of God and be near all that glorious water? The sun was warm, there was a light mist and rainbows everywhere. It is a feeling that will stay with me for quite awhile - what a gift!

On the way home, we took another night to stay in Corning. We had taken the boys there years ago to the Corning Glass Works. I called ahead and registered for 4 classes in their walk-in-workshops. When we got there, everyone seemed to know who I was - "Oh, you're the woman that signed up for FOUR classes!" Apparently that isn't done too often! After we toured the museum - all that GLASS!! - I went to the workshop studios. I made a fused glass mirror in greens, irridized clear, blue and violet. And a handblown glass flower - looks a little like a lily, as a wall vase, with deep amethyst, white and cobalt blue - really pretty. and two different lampworked beads. It was so wonderful. I balked at doing something just for myself while with Brian, but he said it made him happy to see me so happy and enthused. What a guy! He watched golf while I did the workshops and seemed quite satisfied with that. We had a great Italian dinner in town, and then went back the next day to pick up my projects, they had to stay in an annealing kiln overnight. Again - we met pairs of workers I had met the day before walking around "How did your pieces turn out?" Brian asked if I talked to EVERYONE?! And of course the answer was yup!. I also found a beautiful set of candlesticks and a matching vase for Bethany as well as - ready? - wee little glass penguin earrings!! (the mascot at the seminary is a penguin, and I have a collection) We then headed home the next day - refreshed and happy and ready for the next 30 - may they be filled with as much love and adventure as the first 30! How lucky are we?!