Floating Petals

 

Two champagne glasses. A petal in each.  

It was the 11th anniversary celebration of our official marriage. Since Bartavelle is our favorite all time, all places restaurant, a meal there has meaning besides incredible food.

I say our official marriage for a reason. In Switzerland and many other countries only the ceremony performed by a city official is valid. A couple can marry 1000 times in a church, but it has no legal standing. Rick and I had exchanged vows 13 years before in a commitment ceremony attended by 40 friends from seven countries. It counted the most for us.

Bartavelle had served a meal for our out-of-country guests the night before the commitment ceremony. One friend mentions it whenever we eat together. "It's good, but it isn't Bartavelle."

The owners of the restaurant are artists. Thibault, the award-winning chef, is an artist in food. His wife Stephanie is an artist not just in all-things restaurant, but in painting as well. We have several of her works in both France and Switzerland. One of our patio walls, features a mural.

Our celebration meal was no exception to the fantastic food. Except there was an exception to the exception.

As Rick and I chatted, I looked at the champagne glasses, the petals made their way to the top and down and up and down, swimming gracefully among the bubbles. 

Stephanie may not have known it, but the petals in champagne was a symbol of our marriage. Even with ups and downs our relationship has been like a fine champagne.