How many chick flicks will it take to detox?
My husband and I had a fantastic date night yesterday. We've been staying in Houston for an educational business conference, and when Chris arrived home we took a quick dip in the hotel swimming pool. The hot afternoon sun was a welcomed guest after days and days of cloudy skies. It's been raining like crazy all across Texas, and we were hoping to escape Mother Nature by heading further south.
After our outdoor excursion, we took a quick shower and got gussied up for a fancy dinner at the Aquarium restaurant. The ambiance wooed us as we slipped through the front doors of the aquatic playground. Huge tanks of exotic fished swirled around us, and we were transported to an undersea adventure. The waiter seated us and proceeded to explain that the cylinder tank near the entrance was the largest of its kind. We stood in awe as needle nosed sharks, moray eels, and giant sting rays floated effortlessly through the crystal clear water.
Dinner consisted of shrimp brochette, sautéed veggies, and brown rice. As usual, Chris and I shared an entrée. We happen to believe that American portion sizes are out of control. Simple conversation and sweet smiles made the evening memorable, and after paying the bill we rushed off towards the local theatre. Chris had been talking about the new Die Hard movie for a few weeks, and I figured it would bring him great pleasure to see it on opening night.
Crowds of people mingled inside the lobby as I dashed towards the counter to purchase tickets. Chris was parking the car in the garage, and he called from the second floor to let me know he was waiting for me. We walked through the doors of screen #23 just in time to catch the previews. Apparently, missing the opening credits of a movie is one of my husband’s pet peeves.
Chris’ dad once proclaimed that a movie isn’t worth watching unless something blows up within the first five minutes. If his statement holds true, then this film should have won an Oscar! My hands shielded my eyes the majority of the time, and I just about jumped out of my seat with each daredevil stunt.
I’m not generally an action movie kind of girl, but I’m thinking I may become one. Watching a “bang, bang shoot em’ up” flick with my husband was an incredibly exciting experience. Each time someone got their head blown off I would bury my head in his chest, and Chris would squeeze my hand to warn me when something gruesome was about to pop onto the screen. Watching his facial expressions change brought joy to my heart, and for a brief moment I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift God has placed in my life.
A little over a year ago, I wrote a blog called, “Being Single Sucks”. It was a bitter diatribe about how I struggled with loneliness and how I longed to find a companion to partner alongside me. One of my dreams involved having a hand to hold at the movie theatre. Today, I believe God truly does grant us the desires of our heart. Patience is not a virtue I possess, but as always, hindsight teaches us deep and lasting lessons.
My season of singleness was vitally important to who I am today. I do not regret the years of frustration and questioning. In many ways I am grateful for the time I was given to explore the issues that shaped who I’ve become. I never had the expectation that finding a mate would magically make me happy because I know my joy cannot be dependent upon someone else. However, I am learning to appreciate life from a different perspective, and I believe Chris and I will sharpen one another as we embark on this journey of marriage.
The Bible says that “two are better than one”, and I’m beginning to believe that might just be true . . . especially when you’re going to see Bruce Willis kick ass on the big screen!
On our way home from the theatre, Chris asked the following question . . . “How many chick flicks will it take to detox you after watching that?”
I replied, “Oh, I’ll catch a few Lifetime movies, and it should all be out of my system in a couple of days”.
*Grinning*
Disclaimer: To all my single friends out there who still read my blog . . . I am not implying that being married is better than the single life. I am simply trying to soak in this wonderful new season, so please do not take offense. I used to get so pissed at my “recently married” friends who reminded me of how alone I was. This was not my intension.