Anybody else out there celebrate the anniversaries of your first date? We’ve celebrated all except one – I don’t recall what was going on that year, but I was gutted to realize we’d missed it. I mean, it’s exactly two weeks after The Husband’s birthday… I guarantee, we’ve never missed it since!
The Husband and I met during an acting class we attended on Hollywood Boulevard. Poor, young 20-somethings, we chose the Howard Johnson’s restaurant down the street for our first date. Below, is a picture (couldn’t find a photographer to credit) that I believe to be the actual restaurant, torn down years ago, because it was right near the Capitol Records building. And that was the beginning of our Happily Ever After!
PS-I had a tuna melt and I still own the outfit I wore that night. ‘Course, it will never fit me again ~ LOL!
This year, we decided to take a stroll around The Hilbert Museum in Orange, CA, to kick off the celebration. They had a few new exhibits ~ it’s always a delight to wander around and enjoy the artworks. Hope you’re all ready to see A LOT of great art!
Here are the highlights:
Emigdio Vasquez, born and raised in Orange County, not far from The Hilbert, immortalized his barrio, friends, and loved ones in his work, including portraits and murals.
Adeline Gutweiler, an early supporter and collector, who he credited with launching his career.
Tools of the trade and personal belongings.
When I saw this one from across the room, I thought it was a photograph!
He loved to paint memories of his early years. The figure on the left in red is the artist among friends.
Orange County barrios from the 50’s and 60’s.
This painting of women packing oranges at the Santiago Growers Association packing house, sketched prior to his death, was discovered and finished by his daughter, Rosemary Vasquez Tuthill. The women depicted include two of Rosemary’s aunts.
This is my favorite of Vasquez’s work. It epitomizes The Elder in any society and reminds me of my grandfather.
Laguna Beach Artist Joan Gladstone pays homage to The Mother Road, Route 66, celebrating it’s 100th birthday.
And my favorite of maybe all The Hilbert exhibits we’ve seen, the wildly imaginative art of Ralph Allen Massey. He’s not shy about the fact that he “appropriates” the style of artists he admires, while making the works his own. What I especially liked about this exhibit is all of the information about the works are artist statements from the man himself at 88 years young!
The artist he’s “appropriating” had done extensive research on Roman gladiators and owned several pieces of armor and accessories from which to draw inspiration.
Books and strong women! My idea of great art!
He liked to combine similar art just because he liked them… Here he uses the magazine artwork of one of my favorite artists, with whom I share the same birthdate, Maxfield Parrish, and a fashion illustration, both with polka dot motifs.
My sci-fi guy!
He said he used the laughing Felix the Cats to inject some humor into the serious subject matter.
This was a favorite of The Husband’s. Also, some of his artwork incorporated holes in the board on which they’re created. In the upper left, by Alice’s elbow, is one example, plus several others in this work that may not be as easy to see.
He also does sculptures. A soloist with the American Ballet Theatre, he admired Barrie’s athleticism.
Art Nouveau and Johnny Rockets.
Several of these works juxtaposed the beginnings of flight with our future in space.
His version of a famous still from the Marx Brothers’ A Night At the Opera. I believe the man in the upper right is the artist himself and the detritus in the foreground are items from his studio.
The Husband is a Poe fan.
And here are a couple of artworks I liked from exhibits across the courtyard, in the second Hilbert building.
These colors are amazing! It’s what Van Gogh could have done if Xanax had been invented sooner.
An interesting take on Hopper’s Nighthawks.
After our art immersion, we treated ourselves to lunch at Appleby’s with gift cards my BFF, Zan, gave us for Christmas in 2019 (!). I guess we tend to hold on to gift cards for special occasions ~ last year we finally used a $50 Visa card we won on a trip to San Antonio in December of 2019 for our 45th wedding anniversary dinner!
The Husband with his strawberry and chicken salad.
Chicken, broccoli, and garlic mashed potatoes. Nom!
Caramel apple pie a la mode and two spoons, please!!
Happy Anniversary to us!
Let us know how you celebrate special dates in the comments!
I'm Writing As Fast As I Can 
What a great way to celebrate the first day of the rest of your lives together!!
Still keeping life lively and interesting 👍 And you both still look fabulous ❤️❤️
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