First Date

Reaching back 39 years in my mind, to my husband's and my first date.    He showed up the next day at the door.  I was dressed this time and answered it.

  "Oh hi,  Gary's not in."

"I didn't come here to see Gary, I sort of came here to see you.  Are you doing anything today?"

  Anything I had planned got thrown out the window.  This was one cute guy I wanted to tackle.

We took a bus out to the Arnold Arboretum that Dan wanted to visit and show me.  In future dates, he would always have his constant companions along, his 35 mm camera and his dog, but on this date we went alone.

We climbed up to the top of one of the four impressive hills that make up the park.  The view was stunning, the sky was Springtime blue and it was a glorious day.  Crocus were in bloom and so were we.


"We should roll down this hill together." I said to him.   "It would be a great idea."


"What?" he says to me, looking a little panicky.  

"Roll down this hill.  you know, entwined, sideways like logs,  have you never done that before?"

People will look. he says.

uhuh. silence from me.

Um. I don't do stuff like that in public.

There's no rule against it is there? I ask.

There might be dog poop..., he looks worried.

You could scout the way down if you like, just to be sure. I think it will be fine.

....

I think it's really important that we roll down this hill on this day right here right now.  I hold firm, but sweet.

He goes down the hill. looking carefully around for messes, comes back up and says, the path is clear.

He takes off his glasses, and sets them near his backpack, I show him how to lay, and we start.

When we get going, and it's a long slope, we go faster and faster and hold on for dear life till the ground flattens out, we are out of breathe from laughing, screaming, squealing and exhilarated.

"I'm so glad you decided to do that with me." I say as we trudge back up the way we came...to collect his stuff and go on back to my house to continue our date.



This needs work, critique requested.