Despite the weather, yesterday was a nice day. We slept in, took the dog for a long walk, shopped for my elliptical (yay!) and went out for dinner.
Over a shared appetizer of steamed dumplings it dawned on me that I could not remember the last time we went on a date. We always used to go on dates. In college we had a "date night" once a week, no matter what.
I guess sometime in the past few years, between work and life, we settled into a routine. A comfortable, happy routine...but a routine none the less.
It's funny how relationships change. I saved some emails Michael wrote me the first few months we were dating. I had just finished my freshman year and had returned to NY for the summer. The time apart was agony. The torture of new, young love was enough to make me realize I never wanted to be apart again. (Incidentally, that was the only summer I ever went back home.)
They are the sweetest letters and I really cherish them. Everything was new, we were so in love. We were both high on the new relationship buzz and the curiosity and excitement of the unknown.
Every six months or so I read those letters as a reminder of where we came from, what our relationship was built upon. They always make me smile.
And although the infatuation has melted away, what remains is something strong and wonderful. We're no longer planning our next date, but our future, our family, our lives. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
But what had a tendency to get lost in the fray is that time we used to sit aside just for each other. Moving in together gave us the advantage of seeing each other every day. Together time became synonymous with dinner, tv and bed. And while that is all well and good, I don't think either of us realized how much we missed that special time.
Until last night.
So as we dug into our entrees it was decided. We will bring back date night.
And I can't wait.
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4 comments:
Awww. Your post is so sweet! I have a few notes my husband wrote me oh-so-long-ago when we were one year into our dating and I was away at school and he at work and it was tough to see one another only on weekends. Wow, we've really come a long way. Thanks for reminding me of that!
So well put, Molly. Seriously. I related to everything. I too read old emails from the beginning of our relationship and we too recently instituted a date night after realizing that "routine" does not and should not necessarily equal "romance."
To go along w/ the other two comments, I tend to do the same thing. Looking back on old e-mails makes me realize how much love is shared by the two of us and I get a little misty eyed! Sometimes I wish my relationship could go back to those first few months, but in my case, I got to relive that twice, so I am perfectly content w/ the routine, although I do make waves every now and then, I wouldn't change it for anything though.
Hi, found you on BlogHer, and I had to say I love this post! Its always good to be reminded of the way you felt about each other in the very beginning, even if now is better.
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