21 Years on the 21st

Anniversaries are special dates, no matter what year is being celebrated.
But, there's only 31 times when this will occur for some couples — It's happened for us🥂.

Today, August 21, we celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary💜. 

A collage of at-home selfies in Nashua, NH since shutdown

Masked up selfies as well

Originally, we were planning to make this year a very special celebration by combining it (belatedly) with our 20th anniversary. In late January, we booked a rail trip on the Rocky Mountaineer across the Canadian Rockies, which included airline travel to and from Canada. Initial deposit was paid in February with final payment due in June. Our travel was set to start on Sept 17.Then, the virus pandemic erupted and final payment was extended to July as the Canadian border was closed (ironically) until August 21. About the same time, the RM train announced that it was ceasing all 2020 travel operations. 

While offered rail and airline vouchers to reschedule in spring at no additional (higher) costs, we opted to request a full deposit refund (a 3-part process for airlines, insurance and train). Only hitch was that the RM rail company was issuing vouchers for future travel as were the airlines (the flights had not yet been cancelled). However, late last week Canada once again extended the border closing to Sept 21.

As odd as it sounds that extended border closure was the best anniversary gift we could have received. Our flights were cancelled by the airlines, which means we stand a better chance of a full refund vs. future travel vouchers. We're still pursuing the train deposit and insurance refunds through the AAA travel agency.

Just wondering? anyone else have travel plans cancelled and, if so, any alternatives?

While disappointed at our hoped-for travel plans going south nowhere, we have alternate plans. We will be taking some in-state (NH) day trips and longer road trips. This may extend further into other New England states (VT, ME, MA) depending on restrictions. 

Autumn 🍁🍂 in New England is a great time of year to celebrate everything.

Celebrate 🍾 everyday — The best is yet to come !

(The "best is yet to come" is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on the 1964 album, It Might as Well Be Swing, with Count Basie under the direction of Quincy Jones.)