Twenty-eight years ago today, Harry and I embarked on our journey through life together as husband and wife. Through those years we’ve brought two new souls into the world (lovely daughters Sarah and Jenny), bought three houses, worked through major job changes,  supported each other through the loss of parents, battled health issues and ridden through both the highs and lows that everyday life sent our way. After all that time, I am pleased to say that we still make each other laugh, enjoy each other’s company and put up with each other’s idiosyncracies. This weekend we didn’t plan any kind of major celebration but nevertheless enjoyed a few “dates” together. Friday night saw us making another trek over to the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Ore. (a short drive from our home), to take in another great concert at the outdoor amphitheatre there. (I wrote about the Moody Blues concert we attended there earlier this summer). Once again we brought along our own picnic supper and wine to enjoy before the music got started. This time the headliner was Creedence Clearwater Revisited, the band founded by original Creedence Clearwater Revival members Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (drums) and bass guitarist Stu Cook. We had seen the group play about six years ago (and got to chat with Cosmo after the show, an impressively fit and VERY nice guy who is a golf fanatic — Fran, take note!) and knew we were in for a great show. First up, though, was the Karen Lovely Band. Based locally here in the Rogue Valley, Karen is a lady singing the blues with a powerful set of pipes, backed by a hard-rockin’ band. Jeff Pevar on guitar impressed us with his creative licks. Having won some regional blues competitions, these folks could really be going places. CCR played for a solid 90 minutes and then followed up with two encore sets. John “Bulldog” Tristao provides lead vocals that don’t leave you hankering for John Fogerty’s, and Tal Morris on lead guitar was a joy to listen to and watch. Along with Steve Gunner on keyboard, harmonica and acoustic guitar, they played virtually every CCR hit you can think of (“Suzie Q,” “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Lodi” and on and on). The audience members (made up mostly of we baby boomers) thoroughly enjoyed themselves, dancing, clapping and singing along. (Concert pet peeve: when the people directly behind you sing louder than the band . . . and don’t know the lyrics!) Last night we took in Taking Woodstock at the local multiplex. We thoroughly enjoyed the film (tie-in with Friday evening’s entertainment: CCR played at Woodstock, albeit at 3 a.m. following the Grateful Dead); few “name” actors but some really nice performances. Eugene Levy‘s Max Yasgur was delightful, Richard Thomas (remember John-Boy Walton?) makes an appearance, and Liev Schreiber inhabits a character who is just a bit different than those you’ve seen him play before. Afterwards we drove over to Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and several excellent restaurants, B & Bs and eclectic shops and galleries. After a bit of window shopping we chose Alex’s Restaurant and Bar for dinner. It’s housed in a Victorian-era brick building alongside Lithia Creek, and because we arrived after the theater crowd had dined and departed for their shows, we got a prime table outdoors on the balcony above the creek. We enjoyed a great meal on that pleasant, warm evening and decided we were looking forward to what the next twenty-eight years might bring. –Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader