Project Valentine 2012, Day 11: Recreated Our First Date

Courtney and I went on our first date on February 11, 2000.  We'd already met, and that's a story for another time, but this was our first time out.  She came walking out of the elevator of her dorm, all long legs and red hair, and that was pretty much it for me.  I was in.

We went to Gardski's Restaurant, one of Lubbock's oldest restaurants.  It's nice enough to impress a date, but reasonable enough that it's not intimidating (and you're not out too much money if the date doesn't go well).  I wanted her to think I had good taste in places, so I made sure not to choose a chain place.  While we ate, we talked about what to do with the rest of the evening, and she told me that she wanted to see The Sixth Sense, since she hadn't seen it yet.  Now, in the years since then, she's given me a hard time for taking her to a horror movie on our first date, but it was totally her idea.

I asked her about a week ago if she would go out on a date with me to celebrate a special occasion on the eleventh, and she said that she would, and asked what the occasion was.  This was the moment when I realized that I am the girl in our relationship, for knowing when our date-a-versary is, and for using words like date-a-versary.

We went back to Gardski's, where I embarrassed her by telling the hostess what was special about the day.  Dinner conversation is much different three children later, but all the better, because now we know how hard to come by that time together is, and we have real things to talk about.

Courtney really is not that big on horror movies at all, but she decided (again, HER CHOICE) that we should honor the spirit of the occasion by going to see something scary, so we went to see The Woman in Black.  You guys, that movie is creepy as hell!

As I drove the babysitter home at the end of the evening, I took a moment to think of the things that are different now from on that first date.  First, there's now a babysitter to drive home.  Second, I have no question in my mind about whether or not I'm going to get to spend the night with my date.  Third, I have a far deeper appreciation for what an interesting and unique person my date is.

Two things that made us both laugh:

1. After seeing The Woman in Black, Courtney said that it was like we'd combined Project Valentine and Project Horror.  Aw, she does read my blog!
2. At the restaurant, I told her that blonde twins would be out in a moment to sing "Let's Get Together," and then caught myself and corrected by saying how that had actually happened on the parents' first date in The Parent Trap, not on our first date.  That may have been funnier if you were there.