Our Date Night

On Saturday night, Husband and I went out for dinner and a movie. First, we grabbed a quick bite at our beloved neighborhood restaurant 'Cesca and then strolled down to the movie theater in Lincoln Square. We saw The Perks of Being a Wallflower and loved it. Loved it. I left the theater with happy tears in my eyes, feeling choked up with inspiration. Outside, it had started to pour rain, but somehow this seemed right and made me smile, and felt like a beautiful footnote to a sweet story. I stuffed my leather jacket in my purse and in a last minute gesture of chivalry, Husband stripped his sweater off and handed it to me to use to cover my bag. I carried my sweater-swaddled leather bag up Columbus.

And we stopped for a cupcake at Magnolia. And after dinner and some candy at the movie, we certainly didn't need a cupcake, but this wasn't about need. Husband picked a chocolate-frosted cupcake and I went for a pale blue one. We ordered decaf coffees and huddled in the bakery's back room and talked about the movie, and about our respective high school selves. And then, in the drizzle, we walked home.

It was a wonderful night and it got me thinking. It got me thinking about how lucky we are to go out two nights each week, to have this time for ourselves. Not all of our date nights are so rain-soaked and romantic, but they are ours. They are times when we are able to sit together, and put the phones away, and share meals, stories, our evolving selves.

I feel lucky because I know two nights out is a real privilege; that most people cannot financially or professionally afford these evenings out of the house. I feel lucky because I have a man in my life with whom I want to share these nights. I feel lucky because, after all these kid-and-chaos-packed years, it still feels at times like we are courting one another, and dating.

Anyway, it was a good movie and a good night with a good man and I wanted to tell you (and me) that I do not take these dates, or these days, or any of this for granted. Not for a New York minute.

Are you able to enjoy date nights from time to time? Do you think it is critical to carve one-on-one time with our partners? Have you read the book or movie of The Perks of Being a Wallflower? Do you think rain is romantic? What were you like in high school?