Just over twenty-four years ago, I was a freshman in college. I had taken my huge art project (because I started as an art major) out to the dorm lobby for company and because I could spread out on one of the tables. It was shortly before Christmas and we were all ready for finals to be over.
Well, one of my friends was sitting with a guy who had just broken up with another friend of ours. We’d seen each other around, mostly because of shared friendships. I didn’t know him very well. As I was moving my charcoal over a certain spot on my drawing, I overheard their conversation. They were setting up a “spontaneous date” for three months from that night. Simply because they could. No romance intended.
Side note: this was at a Christian university, and I don’t know if you know this or not, but most of us hoped to find “the one” while there. Where else would be surrounded by so many Christian guys at one time?
There I was, almost a whole semester in to college and still very single. So, I piped up and said I wanted a spontaneous date too.
He agreed and we settled on February.
Over Christmas break, I told my father that it was just a guy. Nothing serious. But he did remind me a bit of my uncle because he made me laugh.
Can you imagine what’s coming?
We got back from break and started being thrown together more often. We sought out changes to hang out. Started riding to church services together.
Two days before our scheduled “spontaneous date,” he “accidentally” held my hand. And that was it. I knew he was more than just a friend. Made me look forward to our date even more.
Plot twist! Yes, they do happen in real life. And this time, it was his car breaking down. My heart sank. I didn’t have a car. We’d have to delay our date I’d looked forward to for two whole months–even more special now that we were more than friends.
But I’m pretty stubborn. And fairly good at making things work out, even if not the way originally planned. So, I made some phone calls and sweet-talked some friends, and we arranged a group date to Pizza Hut and the movies. Why not, right?
As we were eating, his roommate happened to come get pizza at the same time, saw us together, and snapped a photo. I go back and remember it every year, so grateful for this documentation of the babies we were when we first started falling in love. And the chaos of that first date.
Ironically, the movie we were all going to see sold out after the first three of our group bought tickets, so we ended up going to see something else with one of my friends as a third. Funny how things work out.
It may not have been the first date of a romance novel. But it seemed to do the trick. We’ve been together ever since and we’ll hit twenty years of marriage this June.
While first dates come in all shapes and sizes, I like to think ours was definitely more unique than most. And it makes me work a little harder to not just send my characters on regular dates every single time.
Do you love reading about when a date doesn’t go quite right? Does it make it more realistic to you? Got any funny or unique date stories to share? I’d love to hear!
Leave me a comment by 2/21 and I’d love to gift an ebook (US only) to one of you. I’ll have several you can pick from.
By the way, I’m launching my next book on March 26th and would love to have some of you dear readers on my launch team. If you’re interested, here is the sign-up sheet!
For Better or For Granted
Divorce was never in the plans for Genevieve Stewart. Only four years into marriage, and everything has gone wrong. Why stay where she’s never going to be happy? If only she could find her way back to the way things were before Scott’s job took all his time and energy, leaving nothing for her.
Scott Stewart achieved his goal of becoming a high school principal younger than most in the state. Everything in life seems to be going exactly as planned until Genevieve threatens to leave. Suddenly, his dreams aren’t as clear as they once were. He desperately wants to stay married, but he can’t let down his school, either.
Their friends and family remind them of their lifetime promises and urge them not to give up. But the way back to love isn’t easy when you’ve grown used to taking each other for granted.
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
I think it is more realistic when the date doesn’t go quite right and we read to find out what will happen next. I do enjoy reading books where this might happen.
Definitely more realistic! Thanks for dropping by.
A fun story. My husband and I Hans an interesting story too. It’s funny how life works. We’ve been married 43 years and are able to live near our kids and grand kids. God is good.
Sounds like you’re living happily ever after!
Good morning and what a Beautiful love story you have. Our youngest which is our daughter will be married 20 years in June also, how time flys. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us. And yes I do like it when stories are more realistic and we can relate to them. Have a Great weekend. God Bless you and your family.
Thank you so much!
I’ve been wanting to read this new book of yours!! It sounds soooo good!!!! I signed up to be on the launch team! Your date sounds fun! I’ve been on a few that would be hard to make a good ending from! Which is part of why I’m still single! That, and it’s not been God’s plan for me (yet, still?). However, I don’t think any dates go perfectly, and it makes the characters more relatable for things to go wrong.
Mmm there was a post recently where we were asked about the worst first date ever, I cringe as I’m typing this at the thought of it. Your first date sounds like an amazing time and you both made it work. Congratulations on nearly 20 years!
Plans not going as expected seems to be more common than plans falling into place as expected. At least it seems like that in my life.
I’m so glad you’re excited about my new book!
And completely agree about dates not going perfectly a lot of the time. It definitely keeps life interesting.
It definitely makes for a fun memory. :)
Thanks so much!
Agreed. Life loves to throw curve balls. It’s how we swing at them that counts. (Can you tell it’s getting close to baseball season at my house?)
I’m with another reader who said she thought it was more interesting when a date doesn’t go quite right, but only as long as it doesn’t torpedo the relationship :)
Definitely agree! There’s a fine line between things not going right and things completely killing a relationship before it starts!
Your books sounds like a great book.
That’s such a great story. I agree with others, having a first date that doesn’t go perfectly makes the story feel more real. I love Evangeline Kelly’s Blind Date Disasters series for this reason.
Your new release sounds a really interesting read, I think focusing on how characters make a marriage work in the long term rather than just on how they fall in love is important.
Thank you so much!
Thanks so much, Ruthie! I appreciate your comment.
Yes reading about a date that doesn’t go quite as planned definitely seems more realistic. Congratulations on almost 20 years!!!
Thank you so much!
I like stories that have both when dates work according to plans as well as when they don’t. Sometimes the rearranged dates turn out to be more fun that the original plans were.
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t have a problem with reading about a date that didn’t go perfectly. I think it is fun when the couple tries to be creative and make the best out of the situation.
yes
Making the best of a situation is a great life skill!
Great! Thanks for stopping by!
My husband and I picked each other up at a grocery store where he was working. He invited me to his birthday party. I ended up not being able to go since my Mom threw me a birthday party the same time. We ended up having our first date on St. Patrick’s day. When I arrived, he was dressed in a green suit with a green tie and green shirt. We discovered that our birthday is the same day, but not the same year. We have been together ever since. We have been married for 35 years. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
What a great, sweet story you have. And congratulations on 20 years. I don’t remember a first date, but I met my husband over a foosball table. He was the champ. He remembered me because I added sound affects when I played (he called them weird noices). I didn’t win the game, but I won the guy, 53 years ago.
I do enjoy a good story of first dates with some snafus.
I like your story too! So fun!
What a fun story! I wrote a novella about a couple who met at the grocery store. ;)
I have never really been on a date. unless you call going to the movies with a guy on our tour cos we were thrown together and it was a little like a vacation romance.]
I do like to read dates that don’t go to plan its real life and can be fun to read
It’s always more fun when things not going to plan happens to someone else. ;) Thanks for commenting.
I think the characters having some mishaps on a date can be a chance for the author to include some humor in the story, or if the mishaps cause a misunderstanding, give the author a chance to show how the characters work through it and grow in their relationship.
Those are great ways to do that. Completely agree.
On the night my boyfriend planned to propose, he took me out to dinner. He drove my new car which was a stick shift and he kept grinding the gears! Unbeknownst to me he was nervous about pulling off his plans. I, worried about my new car, kept yelling at him!
We got through dinner and the proposal (I said yes!). His parents had very sweetly offered him their credit card to pay for our special dinner. Very sweet, until the waiter gave us the dreaded news, “I’m sorry but the card was rejected!” I ended up paying for my own engagement dinner!
Oh my goodness! What a tale. And you married him anyway. That’s true love right there. :)
That’s a sweet story!
Thanks so much!
it’s sometimes fun to read about dates that go wrong but it can also be a little awkward however I like how it feels real. Also, your story is so sweet
Thank you so much!
I love those first date stories when something is not going as planned :)
It can make for fun scenes, for sure! Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your love story, it’s really cute! I don’t really have any first date stories as we always hung out in groups.
Hanging out in groups is a great way to date!
I’m all about realism in the stories I read!
I usually am too! Thanks for stopping by.
While it does make it seem more real, I’m not a fan if it ends up being awkward or embarrassing for them. I guess it’s all about the balance.
PS: thanks for sharing your story! That’s super cute! :)
Agreed! We don’t want it to be too awkward!
Lovely cover
Thank you so much!
I love a good comedy of errors for a first date…I think I love reading about it because I don’t have any stories like that of my own! I started dating my husband in highschool & we’ve been together ever since so we never really had a “first date”
On the other hand, I love hearing about stories like yours–where people are together forever. :)