It’s Date Night.
I fuss over what to wear, not liking anything in my closet. I stand in my closet, mentally pushing everything aside. I finally settle on a cute dress, simple cardigan, and sandals. I paint on light makeup for the first time in weeks. I pin up my long hair in a dressier version of my everyday “mom-do”. I make sure to put on my bracelet you got me last year for our anniversary, saying the words softly to myself, “I have found the one whom my soul loves”.
I pack up the van with the kids and everything they need for a night away from home. I remind them to be good, to not fight with their siblings. I give them all a kiss good-bye. I’ll try not to miss them. I feel anxious leaving them, even though I know they are going to be fine with my parents.
I drive to the restaurant in silence. Taking deep breaths, I clear my worries about the kids. I finally smile thinking about the evening we have planned. Just a relaxing dinner and the new movie we’ve been waiting to see. Then I wonder if we’ll have anything to talk about other than the kids. We’ve already planned our summer vacation. Maybe we’ll talk about grills, I’ll joke that you still need to do you’re McKinney research. Maybe I’ll throw out some ideas for our 10 year anniversary trip next summer since we can’t seem to agree on anywhere. Or maybe, I’ll bring up the SUV I’ve been eyeing, the one you always say is too big for the garage. We rarely have each others undivided attention, I feel like I have no idea what to talk about.
I spot you across the restaurant, my heart jumps. You’re wearing the grey sweater I like. I have butterflies in my stomach as I walk towards you. you don’t notice me. I watch you as you read the menu. I know you’ve been reading every description of every dish, just like you always do when we go to a new place.
You greet me with a wide smile. I smile back. I’m nervous. I sit down across from you, asking what you’re going to order. You say, “I’m not sure yet”, but I know you have it narrowed down to two options. I skim the menu, looking for shrimp. Just like I always do when we go to a new place.
We’re quiet as we decide what we’re going to eat. You ask about the kids. You say, “I hope they’re okay”. Just like you do every time we go on a date. Our waiter stops by, taking our order. I order the shrimp whatever. You ask him to make a suggestion. You order that. I know you’ll hate it. You always do.
As the waiter leaves, we search for the first topic on our mental list. We chat through dinner. Our lives have been pretty busy yet surprisingly calm lately, we don’t have anything big to talk about or decide tonight.
We hold hands as we walk to the theater. It is in this moment that I realize tonight has been perfect. Tonight is what we needed. The simple re-connection. The comfortable familiar. The relaxing moment away from the work we do as parents. To think, I was nervous to go on a date with you tonight. Even after almost 9 years of marriage, I’m even more madly in love with you that I could have ever imagined. Thank you sweet husband for sticking with me.
