Monday, October 8, 2007

our first friendship date...

...well, that's what it felt like.

we went out on friday night with another couple. the wife just graduated from seminary and is working at a church nearby. we worship there sometimes at and evening service and see this couple. we're all new to town and don't have a lot of friends. we said one evening after church that we should get together sometime. finally, we were able to get together. they got a babysitter. i worried a little bit about what to wear. (really, it had been weeks since i'd been out on a friday night...and it's just not very often i need to worry about what i'm wearing up here...my life is pretty casual...i was pretty excited about going out.) on the way to the restaurant, we wondered about what they were like, what we'd be able to talk about...all the things you think about before a first date. then, towards the end of dinner there was the realization that there was time for another activity, and the semi-awkward questioning..."well, we know of this great place...well, i mean...if y'all want to do something else like get dessert or something." and, then, at the very end of the night, after the check was paid at the second stop place..."we just had a really great time." "oh, we did, too! we should really do this again." "we really should."

but, really, the night went well. we talked about all kinds of things. we enjoyed new company and we laughed together. we ate great food and they introduced us to two fabulous local establishments we didn't know about before.

but, still, like any first date, you wonder after you get home "did they mean it? will we really hang out again? or were they just being polite?"

so, really, it felt like a first date. which, i didn't really expect. but, we've not spent a lot of time outside of school or settings where we had a large circle of friends. so, even when we hang out with someone new, we already have some established connections or have at least one friend in common or something. this was different and new. and turned out to be good.

and, don't worry, we saw each other at church the next night and we all said again what a great time we had and how we'd really like to get together again. i believe it was genuine.

i think there will be a second date...and new friends.

4 comments:

Deb said...

I love you stories...your moments. today I went to the store and there was a very fun energetic woman as my checker. I told her I hoped she knew she was beautiful (I whole-heartedly believe we should compliment more...) and I stood there thinking, man I wish she'd be my friend. Sometimes the friend *dates* are even more difficult than the actual dates...or maybe just the invitation part....because really who just walks up to someone in the grocery store and says, "will you be my friend?" (I mean besides a 5 year old)!

Unknown said...

It's what makes moving to a new place fun or bearable--getting crushes on new friends and developing another relationship. And when the dating thing is over and done with for the purposes of romance, its fun to find it somewhere else! I love the way you report your life to us.

Unknown said...

Oh, and I meant to say that we miss our dates with y'all. :(

Lane Cotton Winn said...

Hooray for putting yourself out there and going on a first date after so long. I hope more weekend adventures come your way soon, and that you come my way soon, perhaps for a friendship date. I love you and miss you!