I kissed her. It was a short goodnight type of kiss. As a matter of fact, it was a goodnight kiss. But I kissed her still the same. I found out later she didn’t want me to kiss her, but I did. I kissed her, and the rest is history.
It was twenty years ago today. Twenty years ago exactly. On August 8, 1986, I went on my first date with the young lady who would one day become my wife. I still marvel that she ever went out with me. Actually, when I asked her out the week before I knew she would say yes. I know that sounds sort of cocky, but the truth is my best friend had asked her if she would go out with me, and she had said she would. So, when I called to ask her out I already knew her answer.
I can’t remember what time I picked her up, but the plan was dinner and a movie. So, I picked her up and started for the steakhouse. It was an hour wait for a table. We decided to try an Italian place down the road. It was a forty-five minute wait. We would never make the movie in time. So, we decided to downgrade to a local Mexican favorite, El Palacio.
Even though the restaurant hopping was sort of awkward, everything else was great. We talked all through the evening and it was fun getting to know such an attractive young lady. I’d like to say I knew at that moment I was going to share the rest of my life with her, but that would be lying.
After our romantic dinner for two, we went to the local movie theater and saw Top Gun with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. It was a bit steamy for a first date movie, but I don’t think either one of us minded too much. I know she enjoyed the Cruise scenes, and I really liked the action. All in all it was a great first date. Of course, you already know how it ended. That’s right. I kissed her.
From my desktop to yours, it’s another Alabama memory.
