Sweet Kisses

I talk a lot about starting over and being just on the edge of empty nest and not really knowing what to do with youself but that is because that is about where most of my friends are today. They are faced with a life without their children under foot all the time and wondering what to do with themselves. A life that used to encompass a job, cleaning a house for four or five people every day, laundry that just won't quit, and let's not forget the food shopping and the cooking, suddenly all cut down to two. Probably about a days work if you really looked at it in hours spent. A big difference from taking care of a family which makes for a big adjustment in life. So much so they tend to call the kids to come over and spend some time with them and perhaps they forget this is time they can be spending with their spouse.

He's at work, it's Friday afternoon and all he can think about is how lucky he is to have such a beautiful wife. He decides to give her a call and ask her for a "date" just like he did when they were single. He dials the number and feels a little hesitant at first, a little nervous because a part of him is afraid she is going to say no because the kids will be coming over for dinner or something along that line. The phone rings once, twice, three times and then the sound of her voice! He smiles to hear the joyfullness in her "hello." She knew it was him from the caller id and was just as happy to hear from him as he was to call her. Silly they have been married for almost twenty five years and still they can make each other tingle. Isn't that just perfect?

"I was thinking. I heard about a doo whop show going on tonight, dinner and dancing, thought you might want to go. I know it's short notice but I thought I would ask you out on a date and see what happens." Perfect choice of words. She is taken y surprised to be asked out on a date by her husband, "A date, well, I see. Yes, it is short notice," she hestiates in her speach pattern teasing him a bit, "I was going to call you to ask you if you wanted to go and see the concert in the park this evening with our neighbors, a double date!" They both laughed, "Great minds think alike," was all they could say. "I vote for the concert in the park I think we will enjoy that and then go for dinner and see how the night goes." He told her. She loved it when he took charge and made decissions in their marriage. She enjoyed having him take care of the little things from time to time. Besides he called her first and asked her out it was only fair he got to choose.

When he arrives home she is dressed and waiting in the downstairs family room with the door closed. He is a bit confused but she informs him, "if this is a date I expect you to pick me up and since we live in the same house I guess you can knock on the door when you are ready. Besides I want to surprise you and don't want you to see me before we go." Now he was curious and couldn't wait to see what she was wearing. This was a great idea, he felt so excited to be going out on a date with his wife.

All dressed and ready for an eveing of fun, music, and romance with the woman of his dreams, he knocks on the family room door and she opens it up standing there looking beautiful in a brand new outfit she must have been hiding because he knew she didn't have time to go out and buy it today. She was wearing a simple enough pink blouse just off the shoulder that was handpainted with flowers. She had on jeans and white sneakers perfect for the park. As a matter of fact everything about her was perfect and all he could say was "Wow!" She smiles at him and says, "Glad to see some things don' t change you still say the same thing every time I get dressed and surprise you and this isn't even fancy." She laughed and grabbed onto his arm. "We better get going we don't want to be late and besides you never know we may have a curfew." They both giggled a bit over that one remembering the days when they had to be home by 9:30 and if they were good it was 10:30 PM on the weekends.

The concert was great! They danced in the park, held hands, flirted with each other so much so some people thought they were dating and they had to correct them and tell them they were married and how many years. Afterward they joined their friends for dinner and desert as well as good conversation and lots of flirty eyes and giggles. It felt good to be loose and carefree and not to have to worry about adults coming home for dinner and not to have to worry about who needed what and when they needed it.

He reaches across the table and takes hold of is wifes hand and gazing into her eyes he tells her he can't get her out of his mind every day. The love he has for her today is stronger than the love he felt the day they were married. It's not only stronger it's more mature and he knows now it will only grow with each passing day. It doesn't bother him that their friends are there because he has said this time and again around other people but it's getting her to listen that's the hard part. Some times when women get so engrossed thier families they tend to forget they are human too and could use a hug and deserve to be loved. Over the years she had buried herself into her family and he in his work they grew appart and now it was time to pull it all together and he didn't want them to grow any further apart.

The evening ends and he walks her to the front door. Gently he kisses her good night at the front door as if he wasn't going in and then quietly she opens the door and invites him in. He doesn't take the liberty of going in on his own. He waits to be asked in. She offers to make a pot of coffee but he rather they just go up to their room and watch a movie and cuddle.

Dvd in the player, pillows all propt up and right for snuggling, the two of them get into bed and slowly move towards one another. For the first time this evening they feel funny, a bit awkward but the truth be told, it was thier first date in a long time. He takes her gently in his arms and gives her sweet kisses on her cheeks, noise, and then lips. The awkwardness begins to melt away and they can feel the familuar touch of ones embrace and they know they are where they should be. A first day that has opened the doors to many more and a night of wonderful beginnings.