Celebrating?

That’s what my husband and I were asked when we checked in, without reservations, at the hostess desk at Jubans in Baton Rouge.

“Of course, we’re celebrating being HERE!” I happily answered the hostess after she asked if we were celebrating a special occasion. She had, obviously, heard that weak comment before, but that won’t stop me from using it again.

She led us to the best table in the restaurant.

Well, it was probably not the BEST - BEST table; I was just super happy to be there so any table would have felt like the “best” one.

We rarely do this, but we sat side-by-side because it would have been difficult to hear each other with the Jazz playing in the background. It wasn’t annoyingly loud — I just don’t hear as well as I used to.

The restaurant is so beautiful. The ambiance is spectacular! It makes me feel like I’m in Havana or maybe a spot tucked away in the Florida Keys. I was nearly giddy because I loved it THAT much.

The waiter appeared, introduced himself, and asked if we were celebrating anything special. “Just celebrating that we made it here!” I practically cheered. I wasn’t kidding, although he chuckled like he thought I was. Yep, I’m THAT annoying person.

As if exceptional food, drinks, and music weren’t enough, we were treated to some unexpected entertainment. A foursome of ladies seated nearby were thoroughly enjoying their brunch. One had the kind of booming voice that carried, or maybe it was because she was facing us. Either way, her animated joy was contagious, and we laughed every time she did.

She didn't even know that SHE made our "celebration" more special.

Celebrating everyday moments reminds me of one of my favorite hotels on Florida’s West Coast. Each evening, just before sunset, people gather on the beach. A bell is rung just as the sun dips below the horizon, and everyone applauds. THEY APPLAUD THE SUNSET! Every. Single. Day! It’s such a beautiful way to honor God and rejoice in an everyday moment that is anything but ordinary! (On that note, my prayers are with Florida as Hurricane Helene made landfall last night.)

We never know which moment is our last, what disaster will overturn our lives, or when we’ll be forced to say goodbye to a loved one. It’s the seemingly ordinary moments we need to celebrate with intention — those memories will get us through the night when life gets hard.

The little things are the big things that make our one precious life worth living.