Friday, January 21, 2011

a different sort of date night

 post edit: welcome new friends hopping over from For the Love of Blogs! What a sweet honor to be recognized for Fab Friends Friday. Fab is my favorite abbreviated word, and this is truly a testament to the beautiful power of connection that blogs foster and encourage.
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there are some days when i just want to sit in a dark theater. feel the stale popcorn fold beneath my moccasins. wrap my hands around a too-expensive paper cup, sweating with dr. pepper. sit in the middle of the center aisle.


hold hands with robert across the hard plastic cup holders. look over at him when he's not looking over at me. surprise him with my glance. and when it's over, leave. into the cold night air. the snap! back into reality. the cinematic discussions and exchange of favorite quotes serving as conversation fodder all the way home.


and on an unrelated {but perhaps, ultimately, completely related} note,


there are also times when i want to forget. about responsibility. sensibility. the fact that i have to go to work in the morning so i should be in bed, lights out, by ten.


so with that mentality, i called robert around lunchtime yesterday and invited him to a date night. a super late movie. at the cheap, $1 theater. i called between two meetings. after slurping down my vegetable soup from a can and before scarfing down my ghiradelli milk chocolate pumpkin caramel square for dessert.


and we made plans. and i was excited. and the thought of a scandalous late night spent on the town propelled me through the rest of the afternoon. {when robert and i were in college, and the fights were long and hard and the makeups were bittersweet and short, mama told me this: "seeing each other should be the best part of your day. when it's not, something's wrong."}


but then, as i sat in our den, the darkness completely overtaking the fading sunset behind my blinds, i heard robert pull into our driveway. i watched him be pulled into the front door by pablo, yards ahead and tugging on his leash.


and he gathered me in his arms and i breathed him in. the good, strong smell of a blue collar. of hard work. {when i was younger, my favorite book was "someday angeline," about a girl who liked to drink saltwater and whose dad worked at the garbage dump. and she loved the way he smelled after work and associated it with love. in a similar way, robert comes home smelling like pipes and plumbing, and i love it.}


and just like that, as quickly as they were made, our plans were cancelled.


"we don't have to go anywhere, babe. let's just stay in." i heard him whisper.


and yes. we do this every night. we sit on the couch, sometimes nestled in the crook of each other's arms. sometimes miles apart. sometimes munching on popcorn, and sometimes not.


but i declare, tonight, with its episodes of american idol and every-five-seconds nose nudging from pablo, was spectacular.


and it was still a date.


still a special, singular event.


and still the best part of my day, hands down.

35 comments:

Larri said...

Oh, just look at the love shining in your eyes. :o) Sweet post. Happy Friday, bloggy friend! :o)

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I agree. I love going out but there is not place I'd rather be than home alone with my husband. LOVED that first paragraph by the way.

Jessica said...

Hubs and I frequently get take out and rent a movie, we're perfectly content with that!

Jenni Austria Germany said...

i loved this! especially part about smell assocation. and a milk chocolate pumpkin caramel square sounds so good!

Mika said...

That is so sweet!
I'm following from the blog hop.
I'd love a follow back at www.mikaspantry.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Mika

Jeska said...

So sweet. Nights on the couch snuggled together are the BEST!

Brittany H. said...

This is so sweet. And I adore your picture.

X,
Brittany

mary kate said...

so lovely, the picture is adorable and i love your mama's advice

ali v. said...

perfection. positive perfection.

that is all :)
xoxo {av}

Discovery Street said...

so sweet! I think snuggling outweighs date night for us almost all the time!!

Blondie's Journal said...

Very, very sweet! I loved this!

XO,
Jane

Unknown said...

So sweet and sincere! I love nights like these - we had one similar to this last night until the mister broke out the computer to do some needed work :) Happy weekend!

Peaches said...

this is so sweet. two things strike me: first your mama's saying "seeing each other should be the best part of your day. when it's not, something's wrong." I whole heartedly (sp?) believe her words. Every day for the past 3+ years, I spend all day looking forward to seeing Husband when he comes home. Even when we do absolutely nothing but sit on the couch watching tv, it's my favorite part of the day. I pray that I always look forward to seeing him. I pray that the excitement and anticipation will always fuel me through the day.

The second thing is what you said, "the good, strong smell of a blue collar. of hard work." I love the way Husband smells too. Isn't it so comforting? Knowing and loving their smell, whatever mix it may be.

Happy Friday friend!

Peaches said...

P.S. you two are really SO cute together.

Unknown said...

yall are so cute!

the mister and i usually spend our evenings making plans, forgoing plans, cooking dinner & staying home snuggled together for weekly primetime TV. those are the best ♥

Grace said...

how sweet! sometimes staying in, enjoying being wrapped up in your honey's arms is the best date. you guys look so cute together. i got a bag of mix ghiradelli chocolate squares the other day and the milk chocolate pumpkin caramel ones are the only ones left in the baggy cause those happen to be my least favorite. my fave are the caramel filled ones yummy.

Daydream Living said...

Hi Courtney,
You can make an evening in, a simple everyday night, come to live and let it be special. Your choice of words are great, I'm a big fan.
And your mama is a special lady.
Have a good weekend, together with Robert,
Maureen x

Dee Paulino said...

Your mother spoke wise words when she gave you that advice. Hurray for mamas! --- you two are adorable.

Shay said...

I so love your moms words of wisdom about the best part of your day being when you are together. I can tell from that picture that you guys fully encapsulate those words. Beautiful!

kimbirdy said...

bah! so sweet!!

Southhamsdarling said...

I love your mum's advice - so true, and that is a delightful photo of you and your Robert. Sending you blessings from over here in England.

Anonymous said...

What an adorable story!!! And the perfect photo to top it off! Aww! xx

Rebecca said...

aw cute picture

kiley said...

you are beautiful inside and out!!! hopping over from ftlob...thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog.
xo...
ki

southernchildinthecity.blogspot.com

Daydream Living said...

Hi C, it's me again. I found these two links, had to think of you, perhaps you like them too?

peaceloveandallthingscreative.blogspot.com
juicychristians.com

Bye sweetie!
Maureen x

Haley said...

oh that picture gives me butterflies! And when you said that knowing you'd be going on that spontaneous, late night movie date "propelled" you through the rest of the day is totally how I feel when we have a night out planned! love it :) But like you said, just being together, close, makes it a "singular event" and most definitely "the best part" of the day. Happy Friday you two love birds!

Ashley Arnold said...

Ahhh... this just makes me want to get married tomorrow and live the rest of my life with my best friend! SO, so, so wonderful. I'm so glad you're so happy and that your marriage is so amazing.

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Aw, how sweet!!! Now I really want to find someone who makes me that happy!

Crystal said...

I am so loving your blog. Found you via FTLOB...so glad I did! Love to see people celebrate life, love, and simplicity!!

angie on maui said...

This is such a lovely post, my friend! It reads like a dreamy love story that you don't want to end! (Does that make me sound totally creepy? Yikes!) I honestly believe that some of the best "date nights" don't involve fancy restaurants and dressing to the nines, but rather quiet evenings at home, eating a home-cooked meal and cuddling with your best friend.

And you are positively adorable, by the way. Love the photo!

Darcy said...

so lovely. i do know that smell of pipes and plumbing you speak of , although i know it from my father. He owns his own plumbing business and I've smelt that smell since I was a little girl. I, like you, love it. makes me feel safe. very few people probably feel that way about that smell :-)

Marissa said...

Love, love, love. You make my heart smile. =]

Ashley {hudson's happenings} said...

I think this may be my favorite post of yours, yet. I love hearing about LOVE. :)

Hope you are having a happy weekend, lovely!

meg fee said...

you lucky, lucky, lucky gal.

Some Korean Website Highjacker said...

goosebumps everywhere! i loved this and your momma is one smart lady!!! perfect night, perfect nook. ♥

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