Date Night

Mom and Dad were celebrating their 34th anniversary in Branson that weekend, including a stay at the College of the Ozarks, one of their favorite get-aways. Theodore and Gloria were in California celebrating their 35th. All of us kids were on our own.

So … date night.

It started with a game at home for me and errands for the boys. Before the date, that is. I think they went to Home Depot to look at plants, signed up for the reading program at the library, bought some shirts. While I caught Randal Grichuk hit his first major league home run in Toronto. Sometimes I think we reverse roles.

We had a couple of downpours in between. Great kind of morning; the neighborhood feels like its own wrap-around garden.

Anyway, right before we left with a stack of cloth-bound Shakespeares to drop off at Magnus’, Carrie texted me to seek shelter. These random pop-up storm cells. We waited in the basement for awhile. The sirens went off twice in almost full sunshine before we packed up and left. With five trained weather spotters in the family, I don’t even have to check the radar (which I like to do anyway); all I have to do is text someone for the “all clear.”

I learned later that Joe and Jaya were out chasing tornados. Frankly, I have a feeling Joe passed off “chasing tornados” as “let’s go to Walgreen’s” or something else very innocent-sounding. Jaya and tornado chasing don’t seem to go together.

Rose was waiting for Puck at her place. Turns out, there were plans to visit the City Museum that night, with McDonald’s tacked on the side. That group included Ricky, Thunderbird, Puck, and Rose. Thunderbird was quoted later as saying:

“This is the weirdest group date I have ever been on.”

I am probably the worst person to take on a date, I’ll admit. Probably half the reason we never dated before we got married. I guess it’s mostly because I’m not that interested in food, movies, or even shopping. But we had a gift card for the Cheesecake Factory, so we used it: cheesy garlic bread, enchiladas, and red velvet cheesecake. Fortunately, for the enthusiasm I lack, El Oso makes up for it. He tacked on tiramisu and espresso for dessert. Plus he now has a box of enchiladas for lunch on Monday.

Then we bought him some jeans at Target.

Watched an episode of “3rd Rock From the Sun” back home.

We had fun.