One of the best parts about writing or reading romance is watching love bloom between two people. As a writer, I get to put characters in tough, painful, emotional situations — and some really fun, romantic, make-you-grin-while-you-read moments. It’s both cool and odd when I’m in that rough-draft stage, deep into a scene, and realize I’m grinning from ear to ear. Hopefully that means the reader will do the same thing, right?
Even better is watching our own relationships unfold. Last month I hit that birthday where my husband and I have been a couple for half my life, dating and married. Yet that first date is still pretty vivid.
Steve and I had worked together at a summer day camp our church ran. We’d slowly been building a friendship, and now we were going to work together for another summer. Our first work meeting was set for June 1, right after the Wednesday evening service. Steve called to remind me about the meeting — he’d been the boss the summer before — and I remember thinking, Isn’t there anything else you want to ask me?
Well, yes. Yes, there was.
He asked if I’d like to go out for ice cream after our meeting.
I said sure, trying to sound all calm, of course.
A missionary was speaking that night. And he went long. Long long. Of all the nights…
So our work meeting started late. Much later than expected. By the time we finally left the church building, it was after nine. The nice ice cream places had closed.
So we went to… McDonald’s.
I don’t remember what he ordered, but I got a hot fudge sundae, and we sat inside the restaurant and talked while we ate. Conversation was pretty easy between us because we’d been friends for a couple years. There was nothing awkward about the date at all.
Until a friend from the church’s singles group interrupted us. “Hey!” She gave us a big grin. “What is this? A first date?”
She was completely joking, but we both looked at her and said, “Uh, yeah.”
Her eyes got big, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry!” she said. “I’ll go!”
We cracked up once she left.
Our dates were definitely a bit fancier after that, but I think about that friend teasing us and I still chuckle, all these years later. Of course no relationship goes perfectly, so we had some of those angsty, painful moments that make for a great novel and a not-so-fun real-life memory. But that first date, holding onto that plastic container, watching a friend realize we were on a first date, is one of my favorites.
Your turn! Tell me about your first date, even if you didn’t end up together. And if it was terribly awful? Hey, those can be the best stories! Share that one too.
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
Hi Sally, My husband to took me to a steak house for our first date and we were both kind of nervous. Then we went to the movies and seen Dumb and Dumber, that was definitely dumb.
My husband and I currently live and work at Blue Grass Christian Camp. Which is owned by several churches and was started in 1949. I loved your book Kept! It was awesome! Jenny
Dumb and Dumber, Jenny? That’s hilarious! I think I saw two minutes of that movie, and I was done. :)
Thanks for your kind words about Kept. Really appreciate that!
Sally, no wonder God has you as a writer. That story was so funny. Loved it!! I really don’t remember my first date with my husband because I have been in love with him since I was fourteen. I couldn’t go on a real date until I was sixteen. So, I want to say he took me to a high school football game. So, that’s probably why I don’t really remember because it was boring!!!!!!!!
LOL, what a fabulous first date story!
I met my husband at work, when I was sent to work in a different part of the hospital for the day and assigned to work with him. We not only spent the working day together, but chatted all through lunch and stayed behind talking for about three hours after the clinic closed.
I can’t say it was love at first sight, though I was definitely intrigued and texted my best friend to tell her “I’ve met the most interesting man!” He was too shy to ask me on a date, but I’d just moved into a new apartment so my housewarming evening gave me the perfect excuse to invite him to call on me. The day after we met, he left a gift of a book in my letter box. We started phoning and texting several times a day, then we went on a few quiet dates. A month after meeting, we were engaged!
Dana, you don’t like football? :D At that age, how many girls do?
That’s so cool that you’ve known him that long! Did you meet in high school then? Or does your relationship go even farther?
Sometimes meeting people at work gives you such insight into them, doesn’t it, Autumn? That was what I loved about working at a day camp with Steve–I had a pretty good idea of how he’d be with kids. And that was a definite mark in his favor!
I remember how my hubby and I met, but I can’t remember our first date at all. I think that’s because we did lots of things with a group of people and eventually just the two of us went on a date. It obviously wasn’t memorable. Is that bad? We’ve been married nearly 40 years, so I guess it could be the fading memory.
Sally, I love your story :) I’m sure you’re not the only couple with a first date story involving a visit to Macca’s (what we call McDonalds in Australia). My first date with my husband was lovely. We went to a Christian rock concert at our church and then talked for hours at a nearby cafe. I got all nostalgic a few months ago when I was back in Sydney and visited the cafe where we’d had our first date twenty years earlier. Back then it was a new cafe on the Manly beachfront and it’s great to see it’s still there :)
Our first date? Kentucky Fried Chicken of all places…chaperoned by his then sister-in-law….lol!! No, we weren’t kids, we were adults but wanted to be “proper” :-) We still love that place to this day :-) No disasters thankfully, just a good time of getting to know one another. We already knew we’d get married since we had a great friendship that was built up over 2-3 years. Long story, but God knew what He was doing when He put us together…and we’re still enjoying the ride after 18 years!
Narelle, I never thought about going back to see that McDonald’s. :) I should! That’d be kinda funny.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Eighteen years! We just celebrated nineteen years of marriage! God definitely does know what He’s doing.
LOL, Merrillee! Let’s just blame time. Even my own wedding memories have faded. But I know we DID get married. :D