In love

It's expected for a married couple to be in love, but I think we can all admit that it is not always the case. But, don't worry, Larry and I are very much in love. It just seems to be getting better. In fact, on February 25th we will have been "legally married" 4 years. Sometimes it doesn't make logical sense to me to love someone more later than the day we got married. And, yet, logic has nothing to do with romance and love.

Towards the end of last year Larry switched jobs. He has left Gulf Coast Audio Visual and now works for the hotel he was contracted at. He used to work for them before he worked for GCAVP. So, he works for a different company at the same place. Try to wrap your head around it. With Larry's new job he actually has two days off a week - for now. In the season it might be less, but it's not bad at all. He also gets to make his own schedule.

This past weekend Larry scheduled himself to have Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday off. Sweet! Obviously I had to work on Friday and Monday but I still had the weekend with him.

On Saturday we drove through the Fairhope, Alabama the long scenic way - if you can call the same tree repeated a gazillion times scenic. But, we finally got there and it was just gorgeous. Fairhope always has gorgeous flowers on the sidewalks and on top of the trash cans.

We started with espresso and cappacino from Mr. Gene's Beans followed by buying wine from Red or White. Usually the South African wine collection around here is limited. One kind you can always get is "Goats Do Roam" from Fairview but not really anything by Fairview.

However, we were in luck. We found a Pinotage from Fairview. The wine salesman asked Larry if he'd ever had Pinotage to which Larry replied that he's actually been to the wine farm. The man was very impressed and then asked if we had seen the goats. I kept quiet. At this point I've tired of telling people I'm from South Africa only to have to be asked "What are you doing here" and then having to explain the long story. Why does anyone come to the States? Work, money, opportunity.

Anyway...

We also bought some Greek wine from the $10/ bottle table as well as a bottle of Italian Chianti. The Greek one was a little potent - but that is what we expected. The Greek don't mess around! It tastes wonderful. One minute you are fine and the next minute it's like someone came up behind you and smacked you in the back of the head and now you see stars.

The owners of Perdido Beach Resort (where Larry works) also own a winefarm in Napa, California called Cain Vineyard and Winery. Their most popular wine is the Cain Cuvee which Larry spotted in the store. He complimented the man for carrying the wine. Not too often that ouy actually know the owners.

After our wine expedition we just walked around the little town and enjoyed every moment. That is, until I really had to go. Of course, on every door of the shops downtown they have a sign: No Public Restroom. I told Larry, "they must have a real problem with people needing to pee in Fairhope". Weird. We had to drive to the outskirts of town so I could go to Winn-Dixie's (grocery store) bathroom. *sigh*

We decided to drive back via Orange Beach and stop at the Perdido Pass/Alabama Point Gulf State Park which is a beach underneath a bridge also serving as a pass for vessels. We got there shortly before sunset. It was a stunning view.

Recently they made a rocky pier out towards the Point. It reminds me of my childhood on the beaches of Cape Town prancing around like a Klipspringertjie with no care in the world.

Of course, I proceeded to climb the rocks and prance (more adult now) on the rocks with the waves splashing up around me. At times I would just stand and watch the water so close to me.

I wish I could be there every day to see the sunset, though. What a thing of beauty. The best thing about a sunset is that no one is the same. And sunsets and sunrises have completely different colours. At dusk there is the mauve that lines the horizon. At dawn it's the bright peach colour that streaks the sky. God has talent!

So, we took some really wonderful pictures of the sunset. I'm only putting the best here. I'll have the whole album on Facebook if you're interested in "oohing" and "aahing".

To conclude, I can't imagine spending a better day with anyone more suited to me. I could not have made a better husband for myself because I obviously don't know myself as well as God does- He should, He made me!

This Valentine's Day I just want to focus on how incredibly grateful I am that I let God lead me to this wonderful man. Lead on!