Pandemic Edition – All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

Date nights during quarantine certainly look a little different from the time before the pandemic started. Here is a page from my quarantine date night diary. Grab yourself a glass and read all the “dirt.” Then, toast the fact that you are married, single, have lots of cats, or that Saturday nights no longer carry any expectations.

The Anticipation.

Dinner tonight?  Yes, please! Your place or mine?  During quarantine, I change out of my yoga pants once a week for Saturday date night.  I might even put on mascara for this. I carefully select a tie dye sweatshirt from my collection. The sweatshirt adds a dash of sophistication for an evening out. It makes a nice combo with my pink socks and black running shoes. Yet another bonus of wearing a mask: no lipstick required. I am all dressed up with somewhere to go!

The Boyfriend.

Sean walks in, looking dashing in his Wrangler jeans (purchase date unknown as of this writing) and a faded orange puffer vest circa the Bush administration.  (The father, not the son.) The man can certainly rock vintage. I can’t help but notice how cute his cowlicks are peeking out around his head. Who needs a haircut, anyway? (Well, I’m actually long overdue, but I’m hoping “silvery blonde” is a thing.) There are only a few stains on Sean’s work sweatshirt – but who’s counting?  Adorable! He even goes straight to the sink to wash his hands, without me having to remind him. A total keeper.   

The Decision.

And the excitement continues to build as we discuss what to have for dinner. It’s only 4:30, but we’ve got nothing but time. There are still decisions to be made:  pizza, Mexican, Chinese? I have to say, I still get butterflies as we debate General Tsao’s chicken versus tacos.  Sean is a man who knows what he wants. And he’s not afraid to take out his Iphone and place the takeout order. Sigh.

The Gift.

I don’t mean to brag, but on this particular evening Sean brought me a present.  A whimsical, unexpected token of his affection. I teared up a bit when he handed me the box of vinyl gloves he got from Harbor Freight.  My knight in shining armor! It’s nice to surprise each other with sweet gifts – a few weeks ago I gave him a hand sanitizer that holds a special place in his car and (I’m sure) in his heart.

The Compliment.

Good communication is so important in a relationship. This particular evening, Sean asked me if I had actually washed my hair.  Blushing, I admitted that I had. He even asked if that was a (different) scrunchie in my hair. Yes! My favorite blue chambray one and he actually noticed.  So sweet that he understands it’s the little things. What more can a girl ask for?

The Drive.

Time for adventure!  We take turns driving these days; it’s a nice way to keep the relationship fresh.  Sometimes we spice it up and do an errand on the way to the restaurant. Last Saturday, we stopped at the post office to mail a bill in that drive-through box they have.  I know, snail mail is so old-school. But it is very satisfying to hear the sound of the envelope going down the chute. And who can resist some old-fashioned romance? Off to a great start, and the night is young!   

The Venue.

Arriving at the restaurant, there is some playful banter about who should pick up the order.  I admit it’s a real win for me either way, because it’s such a treat to be out. What a nice change of scenery – sitting in an empty parking lot for five minutes. We might even see a squirrel climbing up a tree.  Romance is in the air.   

The Detour.

Feeling flirtatious, we take a detour down Main Street on the way home.  The extra two to three minutes this adds to the trip is so worth it to bond as a couple.  A full moon tonight – Sean mentioned the moons we once gazed at in Block Island and Sag Harbor.  I told him that while those were nice memories, we would be making even better ones that evening with our tv viewing choices.  So many channels, so little time! And, plenty of toilet paper. Pure bliss.

The Sanitizing.

In my kitchen, we linger as we enjoy the ritual of scrubbing our hands and wiping down the takeout boxes.  I love the smell of Clorox in the early evening, and it adds a nice, clean touch to the dating experience. If I run out of napkins or paper towels, I dash down to the basement to get more from my stash.  Gives Sean a chance to miss me a little. At this point, I’m ready for some bubbly. Let’s get this party started!

The Outfit.

Now, I change into something a little more comfortable.  My navy blue Walmart polar bear pajamas have not let me down yet.  I’m disappointed to share that Sean has yet to comment on these, except  to say they look cozy. He’s a guy, and I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m trying not to be touchy, but he’s never even mentioned my bacon and egg slippers.  Maybe I’ve worn them so often he doesn’t even notice anymore? I hope that isn’t a metaphor for our relationship.  

The Excuse.

Listen, I didn’t realize going into this that I’d need so much spring leisure wear.  So, I must recycle on the regular. In the not too distant future, I’ll transition into donut pjs and my coffee slippers.  But all in good time. You need to keep guys guessing.

The Advice.

They say changing it up keeps the excitement in the relationship.  It’s good advice – we’ve switched seats on the couch and it has made all the difference.  I’m now closer to the window, and he’s closer to the bathroom.  The remote is centrally located on the coffee table. We’ve really got this dating thing nailed!  

The Mystery.

Just when you think you know someone, they surprise you.  This past Saturday, Sean decided to use extra ketchup on his burger.  I hope I am as mysterious as he is. I recently asked him if he knew in which room I left my reading glasses.  Actually, that wasn’t being mysterious, I just couldn’t find them. And Sean did tell me he liked my leopard fleece bathrobe – although he called it a housecoat.   

The Good.

This Saturday soiree has become a ritual for the past six weeks or so, and it never gets old.  I can barely remember a date night with a cute blouse and heels, at an establishment other than my living room. Live music?  I have a Bose speaker. Bartender? We have a blender. Other people, who needs them? We have each other, and we have our phones.

The Bad.

Full disclosure – having an early bird dinner does make the night a little long.  By 8:00, I’m thinking about the last call.  Not like the old days, when the bartender calls it.  More like, turn off the tv because it’s been a big night. However, I’ll honor my commitment to this relationship and soldier on through one more episode of the Mecum Car Auction. Sean loves this show, and I can see why. So exciting to see what vehicle will come up next for auction! I think it definitely beats watching paint dry.

The Reality.

At some point I find myself thinking about missed opportunities.The evening could have been even more…we could have stopped at my mailbox, too.  I mean, I wore mascara and jeans.  Not to be passive/aggressive here, but it’s always nice to be asked.  And sure, the weather was blustery, but he could have suggested a walk.  #Relationship goals. Nonetheless, it was a good night. There’s always more to learn about each other.  And there’s plenty of time to do it. Like next Saturday. And the Saturday after that. And the Saturday after that.