On September 12, 1987, Steve and I said our "I do's" in Laguna Beach. With both of our parents gone, my big brother Chuck flew in from Virginia to give me away.

Last year was the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie that kept me out of the ocean for years. Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, it stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, who, with the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), hunts a man-eating great white shark that attacks beachgoers at a New England summer resort town.

When I learned that the Laguna Playhouse offered matinee performances on Thursday afternoons, I bought tickets for The Shark is Broken. The timing could not have been more perfect (I actually saw Jaws for the one and only time with Chuck in the movie theater when I was 13).

The intriguing play description read, "The first summer blockbuster movie is being filmed - but no one working on the film would know it. Dive deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with testy, feuding costars, unpredictable weather, and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie. In this comedy co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers of "Jaws" stars Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian Shaw), Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble, and pray for an end to the shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever."

Over the course of its 97 minutes, the play grew on us. As we got to know the characters, and understand the magnitude of their challenges 'filming' Jaws, we became engrossed.

Afterward, as we meandered through the Village, our appreciation of The Shark is Broken grew. We all really liked this play. And I think I'm ready to see Jaws again. A half of a century wait is long enough. What fun!

Renowned artist Tom Fruin is exhibiting a trio of plexiglass and steel sculptures on the lawn at City Hall. The sculptures are a nod to utilitarian design and structures we usually overlook, casting colorful shadows and reflecting sunlight during the day while interior lighting creates a captivating glow in the evening. I would have loved to have seen this aglow! Next time.

We enjoyed Happy Hour at Las Brisas overlooking the magical Laguna shoreline.

Steve and I had our first date in Laguna, began our married life here, raised our boys playing at the City park, all while adding to a lifetime collection of unforgettable memories. How wonderful to add this day to that amazing collection. Wow.