Post Honeymoon

Jud and Kara are fresh off the plane from their honeymoon in Cancun. They had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect - though a bit windy. The all-inclusive resort catered to their every need according to Jud. They para-sailed, body surfed and saw turtles.

Talking to Jud about his honeymoon made me feel nostalgic about ours.

Paul and I went to Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver for ours nearly 34 years ago. I know - not quite as exotic as Mexico and a beach, but we enjoyed visiting places we had never been before. In Seattle we stayed in a downtown hotel and we purchased a 35 mm camera at a store there. Our trip was arranged through Grayline Tours. As part of it we were supposed to have a romantic bay tour with a meal. In reality it was more like a boat with a picnic table and clams with sand in them....but at least we had each other!

We took a day trip to Mr. Ranier, which was gorgeous. We still laugh today about the car we saw at a scenic overlook that was rocking suspiciously. We newlyweds figured out quite quickly what was happening in that back seat, but a teen boy on our tour went over and stared in the window. Hello!

We took a giant ferry to the beautiful island of Victoria - back before one even needed a passport to cross over into Canada. While we didn't partake in high tea a the beautiful hotel on the bay, we did pop in and look at the people sipping on tea and eating crumpets. We were transported to Butchart Gardens - a place where newlywed husband and wife could enjoy spending time with blooms. It was enchanting.

Next we bussed it to Vancouver and Grouse Mountain where we rode a tram and I discovered my extreme fear of heights on a swinging bridge over a gorge. That night, at a hotel in downtown Vancouver (if you think I'm spilling any naughty details you're crazy), Paul received word that he'd been hired by the federal government for the Soil Conservation Service position in Oakland, Iowa. He'd already been working in that office as a county employee - but that was fantastic news! A big raise and better benefits. The start of a great career.

I don't think people need to go anywhere exotic for their honeymoon. They can go to Wiota (a little town right outside my hometown of Atlantic) or Omaha. You could even stay home.  You just need to act like you're on your honeymoon - beyond the obvious. Breakfast in bed, walks in the park, bike rides - fun stuff! We all need a honeymoon.