There is no sign of turkey or pumpkin pie around here, but I would still like to spend a few moments giving thanks for the best thing in my life.

Adrian is an amazing person, and I feel so honoured to be his wife. He works so hard at the lab – nuturing his students and staff while designing elegant experiments to increase our understanding of disease. He loves learning about world history and politics, avidly following elections throughout the world. Yet he always makes sure that we have enough time together to relax and explore, and is constantly showing me that I am the center of his world. He makes me smile and laugh, and for that, I am truly thankful.

Photo by Robert.

I had always heard the story of David and Goliath, but had never stopped to consider it from Goliath’s point of view. In the city of Ath, I was able to see a whole new side of him during the Festival of the Giants. On the fourth Friday in August, the townspeople gather in the park to burn Goliath’s trousers. Why? Because the next day he is to be married.

On Saturday he and his tall bride gather in the town square, accompanied by his personal guard – the devil Magnon, two wild men covered with ivy, and two horsemen. The giants and their entourage dance down the street to the church, accompanied by the “Bleus”, French soldiers who periodically fire blanks into the air after a dramatic drum roll.

They two giants are married in front of the church, in the language of Picard (not French) before dancing back to the town square. Suddenly, shepherd David approaches, dressed in white and red. He challenges Goliath to a duel in a dialogue (“bonimée”) that dates back to the 16th century. This dialogue has been passed down by oral tradition, and now some segments are so garbled that they have lost all meaning, even to historians. At the end of the banter, David calls on his lord to give him strength and power to bring vengeance on the villain. The young shepherd has a single attempt to throw a stone through the peephole in Goliath’s wicker frame. If he succeeds, the town will be bathed in a year of happiness.

This year, David was played by seven year old Noa Depôtre, the son of the chief carrier of Madame Goliath. Unfortunately, for the second consecutive year, the shepherd did not succeed, and Goliath lived. This meant that the giants did not perform their final dance, which is seen as a bad omen for the town. David slunk off, ashamed and disappointed. His mother said “Of course, we are very disappointed for Noa, but the festival continues. I am very proud of him because he perfectly recited his lines perfectly. We cannot blame him because the pressure was so great, especially for a child so young.”

It might have been a dark moment for Ath, but our day was bathed in beer and sunshine. Friends Grant and Michelle were visiting from Cambridge, and we were able to sit together amongst the festivities and sample special grape beers that were brewed just for the event. A short ride on the train, and we were back in Brussels to end the day with some magnificent Cuban cuisine for dinner.

Today is our two year wedding anniversary. We met in Australia, were engaged in Croatia, moved in together in the USA, and eloped in Canada. We flew up to Banff National Park for the weekend, staying at Banff Springs Hotel. I felt like the princess of the castle.

Over the past 732 days, Adrian has been the most wonderful husband. He has worked tirelessly to ensure my days are filled with delight. He shares with me his understanding and his insights into the world. He is my best friend and my greatest support. He is constantly reminding me that the point of life is to be happy, and the dangers of using other goals as proxies if this means sacrificing ones own joy in the process.

We begin the third year of our marriage as homeowners and immigrants, adjusting to life in Europe. Adrian is now running his own lab at a major university, conducting novel and elegant experiments in medical research. I have an enjoyable job that teaches me about the pharmaceutical industry. We have time to travel and explore, to watch the city move around us, and to walk hand-in-hand down historic paths and cobblestone streets. It is a very happy anniversary.

This is a major area of debate in our household. I am a cat person. Adrian is a dog person. We would like a pet. How do we resolve this? Adrian likes puppies because they are enthusiastic and devoted. I like kittens because they are charming, amusing, cuddly, loving, and lower-maintenance. Adrian proposes that we fill our 100m² apartment on the 11th floor with two Saint Bernards:

From valeriebb

I’m not entirely sure this is a wise idea. I propose that two of these would be more delightful:

From mercedesahari.

Chartreux cats may have been originally bred by Carthusian French monks when they weren’t busy making Chartreuse liqueur. They are quiet, intelligent, healthy, affectionate, and playful. Many will fetch a ball and respond to their names. They do not mind being left alone for long periods, though they will follow often their humans when they move from one room to another, and like to sleep on top of those they love.

The debate continues…