First Date (WAS What's Love Got To Do With It?)

[Cindy C.]

Barb wrote:

> On another note, I'm about to face something I didn't expect to for 
> some time.  Tomorrow my son is going on his first date.  He'll be 
> eleven later this month and the girl is already eleven.  


Eeeeek!

<glances protectively at almost-12-year-old daughter>

Man, I am really hoping that first date never comes.  Dang!  Well, I
already told her she can't date at all until sixteen, so . . . 

What?  You think 16 is kind of old for a first date?  I need some
bargaining room, don't I?  :-D

Barb's story reminded me of my first date at age 16.  I remember it
like it was yesterday because it was truly, truly awful.  In fact, I
may not have the longest marriage, but I *definitely* have the most
horrific first date.

Let's see.  I don't remember how I met this boy Curtis (bad sign).  He
wasn't handsome, witty, intelligent or much of anything, really.  He
drove his seriously beat up car (I'm not entirely sure my seat had a
seat belt) and picked me up at my house, and my dad sat him down in
the living room and chatted him up.  I sensed that my dad was
underwhelmed.  

Then we left, and he took me to meet his *mother!*  I have no idea
why.  She was nice enough, though, and I suspect he just wanted to
prove that he really *did* know a girl.  

Then we went to a movie.  The film was "Oh, God!" a feel-good family
comedy starring George Burns in the role of the Almighty.  As we
approached the ticket window, Curtis mentioned under his breath that
he didn't have any *money.*  I picked up the cost of the tickets and
snacks.  By then, I had decided I didn't like Curtis very much.

When I arrived home, my dad was asleep in the same living room chair,
and when he saw me, he wordlessly rose and went to bed.  I still
cannot *believe* he let me leave the house with that young man.

Sheez!  Some first date, huh?  :-D

Cindy -- who still flinches when she sees "Oh God!" at the video
rental store, probably due to post-tramautic stress disorder