I am going on a date with Tony tonight ~ just like I did 42 years ago today. We have gone out on a date every August 1st since our first date in 1970.
Growing up at the same church, Tony and I have known each other since we were young. But it was not until I was in high school that I began to wish Tony would ask me out. Since he graduated three years before me, I looked forward to the college group at our church because I knew Tony would be there. It was a wonderful surprise when he asked me out at our weekly volleyball games.
Our first date was somewhat of a
group
date ~ the college group was going to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert. I had not planned on going ~ until Tony asked if I would go with him!
Saturday night finally arrived. Tony picked me up in his
very cool white MGB-GT with leather interior
. We drove to the church where the college group was taking the church bus to Hollywood.
The weather was perfect for the outdoor concert and I was thrilled to be with Tony Redfern!
When the concert ended, we headed back to the parking area. I remember feeling funny ~ like I might be sick ~ so I turned to Tony, looked around for a restroom, and collapsed in his arms. Yep ~ real romantic-like, with my eyes rolled back in my head!
Don't even start laughing yet ~ it gets worse! With his date passed out in his arms, Tony very carefully laid me down on the sidewalk, right in the middle of the crowds of people walking to their cars. It didn't take long before I came to only to begin throwing up all over myself . . . in front of Tony and all those strangers!
A first aide nurse from the Hollywood Bowl came out to help move me over to some curbing where I continued to throw up. The nurse began asking Tony questions to determine what might be the matter with me. I will always remember one of her questions. She asked if I was pregnant, to which Tony answered, "No . . . I don't think so . . . are you?" Great! (The answer
was
NO.)
Needless to say, the ride home on a bus on the freeway was horrendous. When the bus parked back at the church, I threw up some more. When I finally stopped, Tony knew he needed to take me home in his
very cool white MGB-GT with leather interior
. He opened the back of his
very cool white MGB-GT with leather interior
. He took out an old beach towel. He opened the car door for me and helped me sit down. He tucked one end of the towel into the edge of the dashboard by the windshield. He tucked the other end of the towel in the neckline of my blouse, under my chin. Then he said,
"Please don't throw up in my car."
Needless to say, he did not kiss me goodnight on our first date. And, I did not throw up in his car. It ended up that I had an inner ear infection and I was sick for weeks.
Thankfully, Tony did ask me out again . . . and again . . . and again.
So it is August 1st, again, and I look forward to going on a date with Tony
(especially after the
of the past 16 months)
. I am so thankful he did not
dump
me after such a horrible first date. I am thankful we still love to go out on dates after all these years together.
And I guarantee as we drive off tonight, he will say,
"Please don't throw up in my car."
