The Courtship

Hubby was talking to the girls this morning about the time when he and I were dating. It made me think back to those early days when all my emotions were on an uphill roller coaster and when it seemed I could go no higher, I found myself feeling higher than the day before. We would spend our breaks together. He would walk me to my car after work and we would spend hours talking in the parking lot, smoking cigarettes, talking about the things we've done, what we'd like to do and whatever else you talk about when you are getting to know someone. This was all in the chilly month of November. One night after an hour of shivering, I suggested we drive over to the IHOP (International House of Pancakes, a 24 hour breakfast house) to get warm and maybe something to eat.

We drove in separate cars and parked next to each other, because well, our cars needed to get to know each other, too! Once seated in a warm booth, I ordered a hot chocolate and he ordered a coffee. I can't remember if we had anything to eat, but I do remember the other details. We had not had any physical contact other than the pat on the shoulder or a brief touch of hands to pass something along. I wanted to hold his hand so badly, that I reached across the table and played with his napkin, willing him to get the hint and grab my hand. After what seemed like forever, he finally took my hand in his and I felt electric shocks shoot up my arm and down through my spine! I had never felt that before and it took me by surprise. I looked him in the eyes and all I could see was the most bluest eyes I had ever seen, and they were looking right back at me! Later, he told me that he felt those same electric shocks when he grabbed my hand.

It was getting late and it was time to part ways and go home. He walked me to my car and held open the door for me. I was not used to such treatment! I never had a man hold the doors for me, or let me through first, or hold me by the elbow to make sure I didn't fall. We hugged for the first time that night and I remember the smell of his neck and coat, a mixture of his cologne, cigarette smoke and a spray he would use to make his car smell good-- 'New Car Scented Spray'. All combined, it was a wonderful smell. His truck still smells like it did 10 years ago (minus the cigarette smoke) and all I have to do is sit inside and I am instantly transported to those early days. He gave me such a nice hug and I didn't want to let go! It was a hug that enveloped me and made me feel safe and secure, the kind of hug that you want over and over. Before I got into my car, he held my hand then bent down to kiss it! I was all giddy and giggly and I didn't know what to do or say, I never had a man kiss me on my hand before. We drove along, his car behind mine and then at the light, I turned left and he went right. He waved at me before he turned and I watched his truck's tail-lights in the mirror grow smaller as we drove farther apart. I turned on the radio and "Red Red Wine" by UB40 came on and I remember thinking it was the perfect song to finish off the night. [ I don't know the lyrics to the song, I can't hear the singing, I just like the beat and the feeling it gives me, so don't tell me it is a song about death or something negative, cause I don't want to know.]

When I got home, I lived only 5 miles from IHOP, I changed into my pjs and laid down to sleep. I couldn't sleep and kept thinking about what had happened tonight. The electric shocks, the feel of his hand holding mine, the smell of his neck and coat, his lips on my hand... it was all so exciting! I looked at the clock and it was nearly 4 in the morning. I suddenly had this feeling come over me that told me he got home safely and I could go to sleep now. The next day at work, I asked him what time he got home and when he told me, I couldn't believe it! It was the same time that I saw on the clock and felt he was home. I told him so and we were just awed by this feeling of being connected some how, that maybe this was meant to be, he and I.

More to come in the next post...