Making Memories Monday: A Picnic Then… and Now
If you ask Patrick when he knew I was the girl for him, he might tell you, “From the moment I met her,” but if you were to then ask me when I knew he was the guy for me, my answer would not be quite as romantic. Poor, persistent Patrick; he spent more than his fair share of afternoons sitting in my dorm room, reading old comics in my stack of unread newspapers, waiting for me to finish writing papers, to complete my studying, and to stop being totally oblivious to his presence.
This went on for a couple of months, until one afternoon during finals, he insisted I make time for him just one evening that week. I refused. I told him I just couldn’t. I didn’t have time. I had to study! But, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. And so, one evening, he showed up to take me out to dinner. “You have to eat. It will be quick,” he promised. Reluctantly, whining and complaining the whole way, I went with him. We drove along Colonial Parkway (in Williamsburg, VA) while I commented on the fact that there were no restaurants the way we were heading. He pulled over, got out of the car, telling me to “Just be quiet and get out,” and then from the trunk, he pulled a picnic basket, complete with blanket and CD. He had thought of everything!
The picnic wasn’t long – we both had to get back to study – but the evening was perfect! When we did head home, I was relaxed, ready to study, and convinced that Patrick was the guy for me.
Patrick once asked me when I had decided he was the one, and I told him, “It was the picnic.” His response: “Good, because that was my last try. A guy can only be ignored for so long.”
This past Friday was my 39th birthday. The kids were still out of town with my parents and so Patrick took advantage of the opportunity to plan an evening out without having to worry about a babysitter. You know what I said? “I don’t really want to go out. I have so much to do at home!” (Sound familiar? I know, you would think I would learn). But again, he insisted, and so I followed his instructions and met him at his office in Washington, D.C. at 4:30pm… and from there, we walked… to an Evening of Jazz in the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art.
It was a beautiful evening. Patrick had arranged to pick up a picnic dinner and so, once again, just like old times, we enjoyed good company, good music, and good food…
just the two of us… and about a thousand of our closest friends, but what’s a party without a few friends?!
When we headed home, after a stop at Barnes & Nobel for a cup of coffee and a chance to peruse the latest best sellers (another favorite date locale), I was relaxed, ready to organize and plan, and once again, convinced that Patrick was the guy for me.
When did you know your guy was the one for you? Does he still sweep you off your feet, in spite of yourself, every now and then?
Link up and share this or one of your other special memories for Making Memories Monday this week.
Just a reminder… posts do not have to relate to the topic of my post. Making Memories Monday posts can be a memory of the past, a story from your present, or an idea you have for creating a memory for the future. It’s your choice. But…
Remember:
- Please leave a link back to Adventures in McQuill-land on your Making Memories Monday post!
- Add your name to the MckLinky at Adventures in McQuill-land and enter a 2-3 word subject to give blog hoppers an idea of what we’ll find at your post. Like this: Jennifer @ McQuill-land (playing dress-up).
- AND… Please be sure to link to your individual Making Memories Monday post, not your home page. This makes it easier for blog hoppers to find your shared memory.