When love is not madness, it is not love-. Pedro Calderon de la Barca

We loved with a love that was more than love.-Edgar Allan Poe

Our plan was to go for a european tour for one unforgettable honeymoon, just right after our wedding in Hawaii. But, two things called us back to return immediately to North Carolina which meant, our grand plan would have to wait. Our house in North Carolina suddenly sold and i had a scheduled meeting with the INS for my immigration status, which i couldn't miss. If you're wondering why we didn't just stay longer in Hawaii, considered as one of the world's top honeymoon destinations, it was to become our home. This is the reason why we are still in a honeymooning mode. I probably should end this story here.

Anyway, with just our little bitty honeymoon window, we booked our flight to take care of business in Tryon, but decided to sneak up a side trip to our favorite city, San Francisco. Why not do a little 3 day honeymoon, play things by ear, do a 'make memory' trip. Talk about loads of fun for two old advernturers. After all, this was not our first honeymoon together. We had done this thrty years ago, and as Barry Manilow's song "Somewhere Down the Road" goes, ours was a love that would find it's right time.

We drove around a familiar haunt of sights and scenes, and we were having the best honeymoon ever, feeling the love we have lost yet treasured, all over again. Surely, we "Left our Heart in San Francisco", and it was perfect to return to the same place, and thank God for letting us retrieve it. Our drive finally wound up to a charming Bed and Breakfast place called One Mesa, a lovely cottage located in Point Reyes Station, approximately 45 miles north of San Francisco off Highway 1 along the west coast of California. It would be our little love nest for the next three days.

The essence of pleasure is spontaneity -Germaine Greer

We settled in our chosen cottage with one bedroom, a private bath and a fully equipped kitchen, living and dining area, overlooking a garden Monet would have loved to paint. The place was nicely and tastefully decorated in Provincial colors of French Blue and ochre, and mixed with white washed antiques and local arts which created an atmosphere of French country charm. We loved it and immediately felt at home.

On entering a stained glass door, we were greeted by the cheerful ochre color of Van Gogh Sunflowers and a French styled day double-twin trundle bed and hand-woven Moroccan carpet. We had television and a DvD player hidden in a white washed armoire, a stereo with a selection of soothing music CDs. We were wonderfully warmed from the gas log enameled stove in the living area corner.It couldn't have been more perfect, to snuggle and relive our days when we first met, kissed, danced, and so on.

We had a kitchen with a 4 burner stove and oven, microwave, coffee maker and full complement of cooking utensils and serving dishes. Not that we planned to do any cooking. We had fresh coffee beans and teas right at our fingertips! We enjoyed our food provided by the Inn right in our farm styled white washed dining table.

Our bedroom was a cozy place to escape and unwind, with it's vivid French blue, featuring an inviting down comforter atop a queen size bed. We were delighted as well to have with it, a bathroom colored bright sky blue and cloud white, where snowy towels, complete with sensual incense and candlelights. We won't go further than this, because what happened in One Mesa, stays right in our memory!

You are lucky if you got the honeymoon you dreamed of. Some have had to wait due to a variety of reasons. Others just need to have a semblance of a honeymoon to keep the flames of marriage burning. It doesn't have to cost you a ball. You just may have to be creative to make it happen and make it memorable. Either way, if you decide to do it, fly somewhere, or just hop to another town, (hire a nanny for a couple of days), here are a few ideas.

1. Learn some massage techniques. Maybe buy a book to help you and read it on your way to your honeymoon. In fact, both you and your partner should get into it. That's what togetherness is all about.

2 Get some aromatherapeutic mood massage oils, like Lavender, Jasmine and Patchouli.

3 Take along your favorite music and have it playing softly in the room.

4 Have candles to help create mood. The soft flickering glow has always been the main point of romance. You can arrange with the hotel where you will be staying to order and place the candles in your room

5 Bring the right (ok, sexy) lingerie, even if you may not need it.

6 Wear your spouse's favorite perfume or cologne, if that's all you plan to wear.

7 Have bubblies - for the bath and for sipping in the bath. This is one event that you may never be able to do again, so don't compromise on quality. You want to have the finest French champagne (California Champagne is good too) and the best bubble bath

8 Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner, if you can, on the balcony of your hotel room and continue with some fireworks for some excitement.

9 Stay-in one evening, watch a romantic movie and just cuddle up.

10 Take a long beach stroll at sunset and have the hotel set up a picnic for you on the sand with blankets, candles and champagne.

11 Hire a twin bicycle, or drive around town - stop at the local markets and buy fresh flowers and fruit then find a peaceful place where the two of you can just enjoy each others company.

12 Go for a hike in a wooded area; take along a picnic of strawberries and cream, and wine for a private toast to your marriage.

13 Have the hotel fill your room with fresh fragrant flowers like Roses, Hyacinths or Gardenias every time you smell those flowers you will remember your honeymoon for the rest of your life.

14 Don't forget to have a camera (and video) at hand at all times - capture unexpected moments along the way, and record them forever.

15 Wake up extra early just to watch the sun rise together - especially if you have a spectacular view like rolling hills or the ocean.

16. Say "I love you" a million times, and get used to telling each other how much you esteem your partner.

17. Keep a journal of your honeymoon, your advenrture, and make sure to bring back a souvenir. a token you found together.

Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly.-Rose Franken

You know you're in love when you don't want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Dr. Seuss