Who knows where the time goes

Yesterday was our anniversary. Three years. Seems like 30, and I mean that in a good way. We woke up and headed off for a day of memories. We went to Kate Mantalini's in Beverly Hills where I sat three years ago and drank champagne and ate calimari with my best friend and goddaughter just hours before we married. We ordered the same, made a toast and felt giddy. On to the rabbi's for some soul searching. "Ah, you two seem so in love, yet so peaceful," he said. Smart rabbi.

We headed over to the Four Seasons and remembered how we felt that day, all the love, all the emotion. We drank more champagne, ate chocolate strawberries and walked to the place that it all happened. Michael had arranged for the same table to be set under the arch. Rose petals and candles adorned the table, and I felt a little weak in the knees. Michael took my hand and placed a beautiful diamond band on my finger, stacked with ones from the last two years. "I would marry you a hundred times, he said."

I handed him a Tiffany box with an engraved money clip. "Who is MJB? he asked. "Stop kidding," I said. "No, really, who is MJB?" I took the money clip from his hand and there it was: MJB. (My husband's initials are MJA).On the back was written, "mi amore." At least that was right.

"I wiill take it back tomorrow," I said. "I can't believe they did this!" When we returned from Il Cielo, I looked in my purse for my receipt. There it was in my own handwriting:
MJB. As we made love, I wondered, "Who the hell is MJB?"

I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever. -Amy Tan