As of today, Mark and I have had nine years of wedded bliss, more or less.  I had the day off work, and he got home from work earlier than usual so we could celebrate.

Earlier in the day, I wanted to surprise Mark by getting my Wisconsin driver’s license, but I was having a hard time finding someone who could give me a ride.  I finally called Kathy Guckenberg and she put me in touch with a couple named John and Susie who were heading to Sturgeon Bay to do some shopping.  I didn’t know them, although I had seen them last Saturday at the staff and seasonal potluck at Wagon Trail Campground.  Turns out, they’re the ones cleaning the bathrooms there this summer.  We had a nice long chat about Door County and Wagon Trail Campground on the way down and back.

I’m official now. I can drive and vote in Wisconsin!

Mark and I had been planning for a while that we’d go to Shoreline for our anniversary dinner.  Just before Mark got home, I was out in my yard when one of the neighbors walked by with her dogs and stopped to chat with me.  When I told her where we planned to go for our anniversary, she checked on her iPhone and found out that Shoreline was closed, so Mark and I went to Plan B.  We had talked for a couple years about trying Chop someday, so we went there tonight.

Chop just built a big new two-story building in Sister Bay.  When we walked into the lower level, it was so noisy we almost turned around and left.  Fortunately, the waitress seated us upstairs.

We had a steak for two (huge!), twice baked potatoes, asparagus, and we shared a salted caramel sundae. Yum!

After dinner, we were feeling kind of full, so we went for a stroll.

Bumble bee on bleeding hearts

Looking down the sidewalk in Sister Bay

Mark, looking like he’s ready for a showdown on the wharf!

We went back and got in our truck, but we didn’t make it out of northern Sister Bay before we stopped again to take pictures of the sunset and a sailboat.

Heading out on another wharf

Mark found a good spot to take pictures from. Smile!

A sun trail

Watching the sunset is a local pastime.

A sunset tour on board

Just after the sun went down, the sailboat glided past where it had set.

I just want to say that Mark and I have gone through times when we wondered if we could hang in there, but we are so happy today.  Life doesn’t get any better than this.  I love you, Mark!