scribblechic

Calendars cluttered with commitments, time with my husband hinges on two little words.  Date nights are no longer exaggerated gestures of courtship, but pockets of time filled with gratitude.  An indulgent meal or popcorn at a movie; an opportunity to address a concern or a moment of quiet distraction weightless in frivolity are really happy excuses in disguise.

Some plans are better for pleasant accidents.  En route to a movie one evening, my husband and I detoured to a nearby store to explore their selection of area rugs.  Our home seemed to echo with a cacophony of noise and lacked the warmth of patchwork interruptions underfoot.  The task of making a decision together transformed a simple furnishing into a tiny remembrance of a moment shared.  We returned home early from our date eager to unroll our purchase and settle the space.  A beautiful night, completely unintended.

Anniversaries suggest an occasion for something extraordinary, but our 10th anniversary was exceptionally average.  Dressed in casual attire we settled into a booth at a restaurant bar.  We toasted over featured cocktails and indulged in favorite foods with little care for the world outside our table.  Afterwards we drove with no destination in mind; tired, but happy to be alone with our shared thoughts.

Once in a while, everything goes according to plan.  My husband had developed an interest in tea that created an opportunity for me to acknowledge something important to him.  I scheduled an evening cup of tea and reflexology treatment for two.  Sitting in the sanctuary I smiled at the sound a soothing waterfall punctuated by my husband’s happy snores.

Date nights are touchstones of togetherness, but more importantly they are opportunities to gather strength and celebrate the passage of time.

Tagged: Anniversary, Date night