Thursday, January 8, 2015

Caldestine Lunch Dates

"You want to meet for lunch?"

"I'll be home in a little while," she sighs.

"I don't care," I reply. "Let's meet for lunch."

"I don't want to go to Johnny Harris," she replies.

Johnny Harris Restaurant is roughly half way between us but we were just there on Sunday night for the "Singer-Songwriter" Series ... and we meet there about once a week.

That's because we have a "Lunch Date" about once a week.

It's usually completely spontaneous and rarely planned.

"You want to meet for lunch?" one of us asks the other.

We contemplate things needing to be accomplished today... other obligations ... the drive ... calculate the time necessary to stop for gas ... feel guilty about leaving work ... wonder if God punishes people who do what they really want ... and how much tax must be paid to the Government because you want to have fun and God knows the Government is Anti-Fun.

"Sure," Sarah replies.

""Where?" I ask.

"I don't want Asian," she snaps knowing how much I love Asian.

"Well I don't want that lame place besides "Whole Foods" ... it sucks," though somehow  my wife is quite fond of it.

"How about the Cotton Exchange?" I ask.

"That's too far for you," she protests..

"No, I'll meet you there."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay."

I love the Cotton Exchange. Gene Prevatt and I ordered beers there a thousand years ago when we were 17 and ... they served us ... I'm sure because we looked and acted older! ... so I've had a special affinity for it ever since ... AND they make the best potato salad ever!

So we meet and Sarah's as lovely as ever when she graces the room ... only to endure the catcalls and whistles of Ben Price and his friend who are also having lunch at the Exchange.

Ben and I go way back ... he was famous then ... I was famous then ... we liked each other anyway ... his Dad was very, very good to me ... and I performed his and Pam's wedding ceremony on a glorious evening in a glorious place.

He and Sarah meet for the first time and ... it's obvious Ben and I like each other so she's forced to like him too ... ON THE SPOT!

"Who was that?" Sarah asks when Ben and his friend leaves.

"He used to be somebody," I answer.

"Like you?" she lovingly asks putting her hand on top on mine.'

"Yeah ... like me,"" I answer kissing her in public.

If you don't think this boring story could get any worse ... you're right ... it doesn't.

Ben emails Sarah and I later inviting us to dinner with Pam and him ... making the assumption he's paying ... so we're pretty damn excited!

And that my friends is why it's important to have lunch dates with your spouse ... lover ... significant other ... clandestine relationship ... Anti-Government endorsed relationship ... or whoever ... or whatever ... you really love.

You might get a free dinner out of it.