When my husband and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary at our favorite restaurant, Lenny, the piano player, asked, "How did you do it?"

I knew there was no simple answer, but as the weekend approached, I wondered if one reason might be our ritual（仪式，惯例） of breakfast in bed every Saturday and Sunday.

It all started with the breakfast tray my mother gave us as a wedding gift. It had a glass top and slatted（用板条做的） wooden side pockets for the morning paper the kind you used to see in the movies. Mother loved her movies, and although she rarely had breakfast in bed, she held high hopes for her daughter. My adoring bridegroom took the message to heart.

Feeling guilty, I suggested we take turns. Despite grumblings（发牢骚） -- "hate crumbs（面包屑） in my bed" ---Sunday morning found my spouse eagerly awaiting his tray. Soon these weekend breakfasts became such a part of our lives that I never even thought about them. I only knew we treasured this separate, blissful time  read, relax, forget the things we should remember.

Sifting（过滤，筛选） through the years, I recalled how our weekends changed,but that we still preserved the ritual. We started our family (as new parents, we slept after breakfast more than we read), but we always found our way back to where we started, just two for breakfast, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

When we had more time, my tray became more festive. First it was fruit slices placed in geometric（几何学的） pattern; then came flowers from our garden times just one blossom sprouting（发芽） from a grapefruit half. This arranger（曲作家） of mine had developed a flair for decorating, using everything from amaryllis（喇叭花） to the buds of a maple tree. My husband said my cooking inspired him. Mother would have approved. Perhaps it was the Saturday when the big strawberry wore a daisy hat that I began to think, how can I top this? One dark winter night I woke with a vision of a snowman on a tray. That Sunday I scooped a handful of snow and in no time had my man made. With a flourish I put a miniature pinecone（松果，松球） on his head.

As I delivered the tray, complete with a nicely frozen snowman, I waited for a reaction. There was none but as I headed down the stairs I heard a whoop of laughter and then, "You've won! Yes, sir, you've won the prize!"

点击收听单词发音  

1 celebrated     

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。

The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 crumbs     

int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式

参考例句：

She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。

Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊，天哪！都这会儿啦？

3 spouse     

n.配偶(指夫或妻)

参考例句：

Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。

What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

4 festive     

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，