No one was here to celebrate with us. That’s just fine. The two of us drove to Balboa Park and took in their “Forging a Legacy: 15 Years of Landmark Acquisitions.” It was impressive. We thought of Maren Hicks and Meryl Erlringer throughout.

We dined at Panama 66 next door, the al fresco restaurant and, as usual, sat at the bar. We ordered the charcuterie board with meat and cheese. i had a sauvignon blanc and Maureen added a tomato bisque with her water.

Great choices.

And then, an interlude demonstrated one of the reasons i love her. She had pushed the cup of bisque toward the bar front as we continued. i noticed a June bug dashing about and annoying the waitress taking orders. The bug then headed for us and dove into the tomato bisque. i pointed the poor thing out to Maureen. It was covered with the tomato bisque and was upside down in the cup.

Maureen scooped it up with her spoon and began to wipe it off with a wet napkin. The June bug fell to the floor. Maureen got off of her bar stool, picked up the struggling bug, and washed him off with water and again applied a wet towel.

When it did not fly, Maureen took it out to the sculpture garden in the rear of the dining area, found a bush and placed the befuddled June bug on bush leaf.

She worried about that bug being okay all the way home. Just another reason to love her.