Our Favorite Place, the Beach

I met my husband on a blind date in July 1997, we were engaged in November and married in April. We celebrated our 25th anniversary on April 18th! We both look at each other and wonder how 25 years have already gone by. Much has happened in that time span – the boys have all graduated college, met their life partners, married, settled into careers and two grand daughters have been born. We had Julia, she grew up and will graduate college next month. We have bought and sold four houses over the past 25 years. We have taken trips, worked to our retirement, celebrated occasions and grieved the loss of a couple of very close friends. Yet even with all of this, we look at each other wondering how it could possibly have been 25 years already!

Throughout these years one constant for us has been our love of the beach. When we first met, we spent time at the beach. Vacations with our kids often included the beach. Our honeymoon was spent on St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Thus it came as no surprise to anyone when we decided to celebrate our 25th at…. the beach!

We told each other come our 25th anniversary, we would take a big trip and mark the occasion. We thought and thought about it. Looked at the free airline miles we have accumulated. Hmmm, where should we go? After much discussion, both of us admitted to the other we just wanted to go to the beach. We picked Westport Beach about two hours southwest of home and rented a house right on the bluffs.

It was such a cute little house. On the bluffs of a beach with a very long stretch of coastline going either way.

We walked for miles each day. We ate fish & chips (our favorite) and looked for shells.

Ray gave clamming a try. It is the season to dig razor clams so he decided to have a go at it. He is a tall guy and stooping over like this was hard on the muscles!

But oh my gosh, what a success!

We were quite surprised to see how many people showed up in the mornings to dig razor clams. I enjoyed watching this go on all morning. When the tide came in by 11am or so, the beach emptied out completely and we had it to ourselves.

Ray made clam chowder one night and it was so yummy.

It was the perfect way for us to celebrate our (first) twenty-five years. We returned home, feeling rested and and full (bellies and hearts).

51 thoughts on “Our Favorite Place, the Beach

  1. Wendy

    Happy 25th Anniversary! What a perfect way to celebrate those years that have flown by! I’ve always thought it would be lovely to live by a beach, so I could take long walks each day, listening to the waves and watching the birds. Great photo of the two of you, and that chowder looks so good!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you Wendy! Ray makes great chowder and it is dairy free! Took a while for him to get there and now it is just delicious.
      We also love the sound of the waves. Very soothing and also incredibly powerful!

      Reply
  2. Robin Kinnard

    Happy Anniversary!!
    My brother Scot has a place in Westport right on the bluff, we love that little town. Beautiful beach. What a great choice for your celebration. 😎

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      What a small world Robin! Does Scot live there full-time? It is so beautiful. I was surprised by the whole driving on the beach part tho. Not sure I liked it. What do you think?

      Reply
      1. Robin Kinnard

        They split their time between there and Redmond until his wife retires. He is opening a restaurant in Westport.
        I know what you mean about the driving on the beach. It’s fun and novel I’m sure, but feels intrusive. I like just footprints on the beach, not tire tracks. 😎
        We will have to try clamming next time! Looks so fun!

        Reply
  3. Kristin Sykes-David

    Happy Anniversary! What a lovely time you two had sharing your love of each other and the beach! Time does fly—— we celebrated our 42nd anniversary in late March. What???? How can that be?
    All the best to you and your hubby!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Yes – it flies by so fast. Speaking of time…. we will be around Memorial Day weekend if you are in GH. Let me know so we can have coffee?

      Reply
  4. Beth Stanfield

    Congratulations Ray and Bernie! Such a lovely and love-filled quarter century. We celebrated our 50th last year. We chose to go to St. Augustine. Beautiful and historic. We’re not beach people but lots to see and do.
    We’re all so blessed and thankful!
    Beth

    Reply
  5. Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts

    Congratulations on your ann7versary, and what a lovely place to celebrate it! We, too, love a trip to the beach over any other vacation. And homemade clam chowder with clams that Ray caught himself – yum!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      You and I have that in common – Who knows, maybe someday you will explore the Puget Sound area – many fantastic places up here Diann!

      Reply
  6. Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl

    What a beautiful way to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary! And oh my goodness, fresh clam chowder from clams he had dug up? That sounds really delightful. Here’s to many more years and miles along beaches together!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      It was our idea of a perfect getaway. Thank you so much – I love the idea of “many more years and miles along beaches together”. That is so sweet.

      Reply
  7. Bernie

    Happy 25th, looks like a fabulous celebration. It definitely makes you younger than me, although we are close to the same stages as you said, but we close in on 42 in the fall! Love the clam chowder – bet it was amazing with fresh clams!!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you Bernie!
      This is my second marriage – my first husband passed away in 1994.
      So you and I are actually quite close in age (I am 62 yrs old).
      We loved our celebration – it was perfect for us. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Pamela Dempsey

    Oh, what a happy anniversary post and pictures, sounds like a great time 🤗

    Reply
  9. Tracie

    Happy anniversary! Your trip sounds lovely — a double blessing to spend time with the one you love!

    Reply
  10. Kathy

    Happy 25th anniversary with so much family love to remember and cherish. I say Who needs a cruise when you have the serenity and quietness of a beach house to yourself! So much easier to me without the huge price tag and over indulging. What a wonderful time to relax and be ready for 25 more years together.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I totally agree Kathy. We went on one cruise (Alaska) years ago. My husband and the kids loved it but I wasn’t a huge fan. The vacation we took last week is much more my style. Thanks for your good wishes!

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi there! Thanks for your note. Hope you and Randy are doing well. When are you coming to the Pacific Northwest for a visit?? You would love it up here. Cathy, Patti and I would love to have you – 🙂

      Reply
  11. JanineMarie

    Congrats on 25 years! That sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a special anniversary. Beautiful photos. Beautiful couple. ❤️

    Reply
  12. Janice Holton

    Loved your walk down memory lane and even though we don’t live near a beach, some of our fondest family vacation memories were on the Oregon coast. Congrats on 25 years together! These days, that is quite an accomplishment.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Janice – I am so happy to see your comment – It has been a long time since we chatted. Hope all is well with you. I would love to hear what you are up to these days. Take care and keep in touch.
      Bernie

      Reply
  13. Torry

    We also spent our 25th at the beach, at Ocean Shores. However, I was going to college at the time. And so I also brought books and papers to work on! Our 50th was derailed by Covid, so I am hoping to get to do it up this year!,

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Torry – Ocean Shores is close to Westport, isn’t it? (I am still not totally familiar with everything around us). Hope you get to celebrate your anniversary this year. Congrats on 50 (and 51) years!

      Reply
      1. Torry

        Thank you. It will be 52 this October. And, yes, Ocean Shores is pretty close to Westort. When you get to Aberdeen, you go South instead of North . (Disclaimer: I don’t drive, so I asked my husband to get that info.)

        Reply
  14. Kathleen McCormick

    What a perfect way to celebrate your 25 years! We, too, met on a blind date, and married a little more than a year later. The beach is my favorite and Ray’s clam chowder looks yum. You may have to share that recipe….I am always looking for a healthier version!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Meeting on a blind date seems so strange now but really so many people are using on-line apps to meet people which is similar. I am still thankful to the friend that set us up though!
      As for the healthy clam chowder… It isn’t really any healthier than traditional recipes! He uses plenty of bacon and potatoes. Just swaps out extra creamy oatmilk for the 1/2 and 1/2 and/or regular milk that most recipes use. It works great though. Nice for him and one of my sons since both of them cannot tolerate dairy products.

      Reply
  15. Mari

    Happy anniversary Bernie and Ray! It seems like you had a wonderful trip and make a great couple. And I know your family is just the icing on the cake! Congratulations all around!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you Linda! It was our perfect sort of trip. How many years for you two? I know you have posted cute wedding pics on your feed in IG but I don’t remember. It sure goes by quickly doesn’t it?

      Reply
  16. Allison

    Congratulations! How lovely you both wanted to celebrate your 25th Anniversary in the same way! Nothing beats being with the one you love, by the beach, eating fish ‘n chips!

    Reply

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