Happy 13th Anniversary to Mom and Dad (and Golden Oldies Part 2)

Today marks the 13th anniversary of the beginning of mom & dad's relationship.

But their story did not begin on September 17, 1999,  it actually started a few weeks before...

 This is the very first picture ever taken of mom and dad.  While you can't see the background, the two of them were lounging on a large floating barge which was currently in the middle of a lake in cottage country.  Mom had her U of T fleece sweatshirt on and was drinking straight amaretto and Dad had a full glass of scotch and decided to don a goofy hat for that evening's festivities.

And despite the person who actually took this photo (as well as Dad's choice in hats) there was an instant connection between them. 

***

Fast forward a few weeks to the evening of Thursday, September 16th.

Mom was out with Aunt Jen and the two of them decided that they needed to discuss the elephant in the room, namely 'the boy with the goofy hat' that mom really liked (a lot).  Their conversation ensued over many drinks at the Easy and then continued over a 3am dinner in chinatown. 

And, at the end of it, mom had made her decision - she would bring home a fortune cookie for dad and make September 17th a day that will forever be remembered and celebrated by the two of them. 

On September 17th Dad took the day off of work and drove mom out to his family farm in Creemore. 

This picture taken of them that very day is one of mom's favourites... even despite Dad's Queen shirt! 

***

So in honour of the anniversary of September 17th, the Golden Oldies collection will feature old pictures of mom and dad (all "re-discovered" hiding in old frames stored away in the basement)

The next few photos mom calls the cigar collection... 

Cheers to 13 amazing years and a lifetime more to come.