GREY MATTER LIFE

As Paul and I get ready to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary in a few weeks, I can’t help but think back to when it all began. Reminiscing about first dates with friends over the years, I’ve heard it all. The great stories about the sweet and special dates they’ve had with their spouses and the warm and tender moments they shared. There’s always something unique and special about that first date… an experience you never forget. 18 years ago, Paul and I were in High School and we went on our first date. For better or worse, this is the story of our first date. 

Our first real date consisted of dinner at Friendly’s and a .99 cent movie at The Elm.

At some point while we ate and talked, our server had put the check on the table. The plates were cleared leaving us our drinks, the check on the table and a conversation which had slowed to a trickle. In a moment of pause, Paul picked up the check, looked at me and said with a poker face: 

“Did you bring any money?” 

Paul sat there holding the check and looking at me for what seemed like an eternity. 

I wanted to die, vomit, crawl away and cry, while simultaneously trying to figure out how to get myself out of the social hell hole I had just crawled into.  I was a sophomore on a date with a senior. A senior on the hockey team… this was not going to end well for me. I was done… my social life was over. My parents would just have to understand that we had to relocate.  Relocate to another country.   

Why?

Why didn’t I bring money?

WHY????????????????? 

I sat looking at Paul. Speechless, not breathing looking like a deer about to be run over by a Mac truck, I prayed for death to come quickly. I waited an eternity. 

5 seconds (ETERNITY!) after my wiseass date spewed his question out at me; with a laugh and a smile he takes money from his wallet tossing it on the table.    

“Just kidding!”  says the Wiseass.

Now my husband and still a wiseass, at least he’s kept me laughing for 18 years.  That, my friends, is something to smile about.