Sunday, March 08, 2009

Date night, post kids

I'm finally well enough that we felt safe to book the babysitter Friday night, so that we could go out, as a couple, on a civilized date.

We brushed our teeth, spruced ourselves up a little, and decided to eat dinner at a nice restaurant nearby that just opened. We sat in the gimmick seats: a dining bar on a pass-through into the kitchen. We watched the clang and clatter of food prep, held hands, ordered drinks, flirted. We bantered with the staff, laughed, nuzzled each other like newlyweds. It was an eventful week and we had lots of catching up to do. Pynchon had an interview for a FULL TIME! PERMANENT! GOOD JOB! ON CAMPUS! so that was something to rehash. As for me, I had six and a half hours of high-impact meetings on Friday, with lots of news to share. We jabbered about work, and potential work, and stuff in the news, and things we'd been thinking about excitedly while clutching at each others' fingers and cooing.

As we giggled and oohed (somewhat obnoxiously) through dessert, our (somewhat obsequious) waiter slid up close and noted conspiratorially, "I guess you guys would like the cheque, because it looks like you're in a hurry to get home" (nudge, nudge).

It's almost like we could hear that sound effect of the record needle dragged across the interrupted conversation. SCREEE!

We looked at him, in bon's words, like he was speaking Swahili.

I blinked. Considered. Replied, aghast: "Oh, GOD, no. The BABY'S at home."

Now that we have kids, if we're having a flirty, sexy, fun, grownup time on a date? The last thing we want to do is go home. Parenthood. It really is the great divide.

11 comments:

Bon said...

laughing. yeh, home?!?! dear god, waiter buddy, there's LAUNDRY to do at home...much sexier to be out in public.

MARY G said...

Oh, my, goodness. Yes. Laughing. Been there.
So well told. I love this!

Mandy said...

so blinkin' sad, but so blinkin' true

Run ANC said...

I'm in a hurry to stay out as long as I can..

Patti said...

haha! Great post!

Kyla said...

Isn't that the truth!

crazymumma said...

aw. good for you. I have not held hands or had coos in a very very long time. sigh. I will come on your next date.

Jenifer said...

Just catching up...that made me laugh! The baby and the REST of them in my case. Glad you are feeling better. All of my family and friends who are teachers are saying this winter is the worst ever for being sick...too many cooties in the classroom.

Beck said...

That sounds like fun. My husband and I haven't been out on a date night for AGGGES.

Cheryl said...

I'm glad that you both enjoyed yourselves!
And yes...the great divide. Parenthood is definitely the great divide.

kittenpie said...

If I ever got out, I would TOTALLY relate...