How wonderful to celebrate the completion of our second year of marriage with dinner at Disney’s Boma—Flavors of Africa.

Suffused with the magical air of Disney, the extraordinary diversity of the enormous culinary buffet tirelessly winds itself the length of the restaurant floor. Armed with only a plate, we go on safari, hunting meat, fruits, vegetables, soups, salads, gravies, breads, relishes, puddings, and desserts across the continent-sized buffet.

Flavors we encounter remind us of the flavorful days we encounter all year. Some are more robust than others, some hardier, some lighter and more delicate, some salty, some bittersweet. Others are not quite discernible but reminiscent, and leave us wondering . . . .

The textures of the feast vary, much like the weather. Crispy, creamy, crunchy, soft, chewy, hard, wiggly, stiff, or limp; mostly Florida sunny, with some blustery days and intermittent showers; but delicious all.

Delights delivered by fork and spoon ripple past our taste buds, as pleasure slips over our tongues. We nip, nibble, bite, and chew, savoring each sensation. Sometimes we close our eyes to lose ourselves in wonderment, like lingering on a lover’s kiss. The flavors and textures swirl in our mouths, then disappear like cream in coffee to remind us of dreamy days on the beach, the surf delivering waves of relaxation, our cares disappearing in the sand.

After each kiss we open our eyes to vibrant colors. The smorgasbord itself an orchestrated palette of wondrous hues, workers all donned in colorful garb of far away lands, dessert for the eyes.

The actual desserts on the buffet, like the desserts of our Love, are too numerous to count and worth the price of the banquet alone. Others leave dessert until it’s too late, forgetting to leave room. They live their lives that way too, busying themselves with the children, the job, and the housework, forgetting to leave room for dessert.

I like our way better, savoring dessert every day. A giggle here, a phone call, a walk at night, a hug, a silly poem, a whisper, a massage, a smile, a sneak pre-breakfast in the middle of the night.

At Boma we start with a taste of dessert before heading off on safari. This reminds us of the sweetness in life to come. Of course we end the night with dessert as well. We live our life that way too, savoring one another before tackling each day, and returning home for more.

Life may be a smorgasbord, but you are my dessert; you simply are my everything.