Sadly, over the past 2 weeks, 3 precious women and a good man have lost their spouses of 30+ years. At moments like this, I always wonder how I will handle it, if I lose Bradley first. I know it's not anyone's favorite topic, but it's on my mind right now. My heart hurts for all of them, and I pray for God's comfort as they grieve. Bradley and I are so grateful for the beautiful examples of perseverance and commitment given by married couples who are dedicated to giving their everything to their partner. As we're all imperfect people, I know perfect marriages don't exist, but when both people are loyal and devoted, a blissful union is attainable. For every faithful marriage, I want to say thank you. All of you loving husbands and respectful wives are an inspiration to me and others. Again, thank you.
Speaking of loving husbands, Bradley, and I had the blessing of spending some time together in San Antonio last week, during the annual TMEA convention. I am thankful for every minute we were hand in hand, as well as the moments of solitude when he was in a session. Between the Springhill Suites gym, free breakfast, and stylish surroundings, I was as happy as a Lark. I was able to exercise, eat, read, and work in ease and comfort, not to mention that the weather was gorgeous! In between sessions, Bradley and I would meet up to visit over a meal. It was pretty fascinating to watch the crowd at the convention. So many different people, but all of them had something in common: music. It made me question my self-proclaimed nerdiness. They have conventions for almost everything you can think of: music, comic books, gaming, technology, etc. And yet, I couldn't think of anything I'd be interested in enough to go to a convention. Bradley decided I'd go to either a "writer's" convention or a "loner's" convention, but then realized both groups would rather remain in solitude. So, although he tried to comfort me, I am concerned I may not be as much of a nerd as I've always claimed. Surely I am though, between my love of logic puzzles and research for fun... oh, and there's Settlers of Catan. That gives me some nerd points, right? If you don't know what I'm talking about, I am sorry because you are sorely deprived of vital resources. If you do know the game, then you just laughed at my joke. Thanks.
Back to the convention.
On Friday I had the privilege of joining Bradley in the exhibit hall, and I felt as though I'd walked into another world. So many instruments were being played, all well, but all different tunes; teachers, in small groups, were laughing at corny music jokes; students were enjoying their temporary freedom from rehearsal; and there were rows upon rows of books, full of music education on all levels. We saw a treble cleft and flowing staff printed onto a gaudy gold bag {the type of gold Blanche from "Golden Girls" would wear}, and Bradley pretended to be interested in it for purchase. I laughed, and then commented that his Memaw would have bought it. Simultaneously, we said, "and every time someone would have commented on it, she would have proudly told them, 'well my grandson teaches music...'" I'm delighted that I had the honor of knowing his Memaw before the two of us were even an item. She was another precious widow whom I admire. Another booth we stumbled upon had the tiniest string instruments I've ever seen - photo op!
If your 3 year old decides to play the cello, we
found the perfect one for them. So cute!
Bradley playing the world's smallest violin. Yes, it is real.
If you've heard of San Antonio, you're most likely familiar with the River Walk. This brilliant addition to the city has allowed a busy, crowded area to have a peaceful atmosphere. Our first meal was on the river at the Iron Catcus, and it did not disappoint. Delicious, beautiful, and tranquil. Our steak and queso appetizer was a wonderful welcome, followed by scrumptious shrimp taquitos {home made style, not store bought}, and then we finished with Mexican donuts... yes, that's right, I said M-E-X-I-C-A-N D-O-N-U-T-S! They were, well, better than they look, and they looked amazing.
Bradley and I enjoying our queso
Warming myself while waiting for dessert
Iron Cactus' Mexican donuts - OMTB {oh my taste buds!}
That evening we had planned to have dinner at Boudro's, but as Bradley had a 7 o'clock session approaching, the wait was too long. So, we settled for The Original. It's a decent tex-mex restaurant, and my only disappointment was that I had been looking forward to cajun. It had a fun atmosphere, with Mariachi musicians wondering through. They played a fun song for us, while we enjoyed our fajitas and a yummy virgin mango margarita. {try saying that five times, fast}
Friday's lunch was suggested by Eric, Bradley's co-worker and assistant director, and Paesano's did not disappoint. The location was magnificent. It's funny how construction sounds seem almost musical on the river walk. The way it echoes removes all the irritants, and it becomes a somewhat soothing rhythm. Hmm... I may not be a nerdy musician, but I can sound like one. ;o) The bread, served like an appetizer, was the perfect amount of grain and fluffiness, without compromising flavor. We enjoyed cheese tortellini with spinach, pine nuts, and a creamy pesto sauce - yum! I think I would have preferred it with some grilled shrimp though. The flavor was delicious, but it needed a little more bite to it. Then Bradley's convention badge entitled us to a free dessert > 3 separate scoops of vanilla ice cream rolled in a delectable concoction of cookie crumbs, chocolate bits, and almonds.
Paesano's sign - just lovely!
View from our table, looking up of course.
Bradley and Eric having "creative differences."
{Don't worry, they're only posing for fun.}
Aww, they've decided to get along, regardless of
which composer they believe is the best.
All in all, we had a wonderful mini-adventure, and I'm looking forward to the next one. Besides, that's what marriage is, right? A series of adventures, some good, some bad, and all of them with your best friend. Bradley, every adventure with you has been a blessing, and I am excited to see what's ahead. Here's wishing us a bon voyage!
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