Personal Narrative: My First Anniversary On The Santa Monica Pier
On April 27th2003 my wife (Sara) and I spent our first Anniversary on the Santa Monica Pier in California. There was a carnival going on with a giant Ferris wheel. Tables and booths lined the pier. The aroma of cotton candy and popcorn mixed with the saltiness of the ocean air. As we walked my wife became fascinated by a man painting. He was painting on mirrors, just not with brushes or cans. He was using his finger nails. As the man painted her eyes lit up and a smile widened on her face she did not dare look away until the man was done. Though only a few minutes passed that was all it took for him to paint an ocean scene at sunset.
I couldn’t believe all that he captured. A sky that was alive with purple and white swirls, birds in the
air, a half orange/reddish ball half hidden in the water, and dolphins jumping out of the water. I could tell that Sara enjoyed the show and loved the art work. Then another performer caught her attention. A tall woman with long black hair, was moving elegantly across the wooden deck. She had long silvery sticks in her hands with bright orange glows at the ends. The sticks glided through the air like extensions of her arms. They left streaks in the air. The air seemed alive with a breath of its own. Everywhere the fire went Sara’s eyes followed. This was the first-time Sara had seen a fire dancer. While Sara was enthralled with the performer I slipped away and went to the artist.
With bated breath, I asked the young man if his art was for sale. In a rough voice, he replied” yes”. he was kind of scraggly, torn up shorts, sandals, and no shirt. Reminded me of the old stories of beach bums, that my mom told me when I was a kid. I looked around and could not find the picture I was looking for.
I asked him if he still had it?
He replied with “I’m holding it for a special young woman with blonde hair, brown eyes, and very pretty.”
I couldn’t contain myself and burst out laughing. As a bewildered expression crept upon his face. He was clearly unable to see the humor.
I pointed at Sara who was still watching the dancer, “I asked is that her?” “why yes” he said.
I then explained that she was my wife and it was our anniversary and I wanted to buy her the painting for a present. The corners of his mouth curved ever so slightly as he listened to me talk. He took picture and made a frame. On the back side of the picture he wrote “Happy first anniversary” and added the date. With love your Husband Ron. I didn’t know what to say, never asked him to do that. It was a perfect touch to a wonderful night. I paid for the picture and thanked him. I walked over to Sara as the fire dancer skidded away down the pier. Her sticks now flying in the air they looked likes flaming wheels against the night sky. Sara had not noticed that I slipped away.
We walked down to the Ferris wheel and got in line. The picture was secure inside my jacket. The picture was no bigger than large book. Sara had no idea that I had gotten the picture for her. The line moved very quick and we boarded the ride. Once aboard and seated. I waited for it to start moving. Up and around we went. As we neared the top of the wheel. Sara commented on how the sky looked like a blanket covered in glitter. I choose then to give her the picture and tell her Happy anniversary. Her eyes began to pool up as a stream rolled down her cheek. With a warm look, she told me she loved me and gave me a little kiss. We sat huddled the rest of the ride as if we were one, entranced in the evening and all that we had seen. It was truly a wonderful close to our first anniversary celebration.
I couldn’t believe all that he captured. A sky that was alive with purple and white swirls, birds in the
air, a half orange/reddish ball half hidden in the water, and dolphins jumping out of the water. I could tell that Sara enjoyed the show and loved the art work. Then another performer caught her attention. A tall woman with long black hair, was moving elegantly across the wooden deck. She had long silvery sticks in her hands with bright orange glows at the ends. The sticks glided through the air like extensions of her arms. They left streaks in the air. The air seemed alive with a breath of its own. Everywhere the fire went Sara’s eyes followed. This was the first-time Sara had seen a fire dancer. While Sara was enthralled with the performer I slipped away and went to the artist.
With bated breath, I asked the young man if his art was for sale. In a rough voice, he replied” yes”. he was kind of scraggly, torn up shorts, sandals, and no shirt. Reminded me of the old stories of beach bums, that my mom told me when I was a kid. I looked around and could not find the picture I was looking for.
I asked him if he still had it?
He replied with “I’m holding it for a special young woman with blonde hair, brown eyes, and very pretty.”
I couldn’t contain myself and burst out laughing. As a bewildered expression crept upon his face. He was clearly unable to see the humor.
I pointed at Sara who was still watching the dancer, “I asked is that her?” “why yes” he said.
I then explained that she was my wife and it was our anniversary and I wanted to buy her the painting for a present. The corners of his mouth curved ever so slightly as he listened to me talk. He took picture and made a frame. On the back side of the picture he wrote “Happy first anniversary” and added the date. With love your Husband Ron. I didn’t know what to say, never asked him to do that. It was a perfect touch to a wonderful night. I paid for the picture and thanked him. I walked over to Sara as the fire dancer skidded away down the pier. Her sticks now flying in the air they looked likes flaming wheels against the night sky. Sara had not noticed that I slipped away.
We walked down to the Ferris wheel and got in line. The picture was secure inside my jacket. The picture was no bigger than large book. Sara had no idea that I had gotten the picture for her. The line moved very quick and we boarded the ride. Once aboard and seated. I waited for it to start moving. Up and around we went. As we neared the top of the wheel. Sara commented on how the sky looked like a blanket covered in glitter. I choose then to give her the picture and tell her Happy anniversary. Her eyes began to pool up as a stream rolled down her cheek. With a warm look, she told me she loved me and gave me a little kiss. We sat huddled the rest of the ride as if we were one, entranced in the evening and all that we had seen. It was truly a wonderful close to our first anniversary celebration.