The Test

Dating as an adult is strange. You remember the things you did when you were younger, but they don't work as well now. Two straws in a soda...not cute any more! Movies? Not if you don't like what's playing and that isn't even the reason you used to go!

Both of us liked antiques, flea markets, etc because, one it was a nice day together. Two, there was always the treasure hunt aspect. Three, it was a sure way to meet people. 

By the time we met I had built a couple of collections. One was a group of over one thousand record albums...the big, black round things with a hole in the middle. The acme of music at the time, but not particularly mobile. The second collection was in two parts. Glass swizzle sticks from clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels from the thirties on. And the second part, whiskey pitchers to hold and display them . Boy did Grace laugh at them...until I sold the collection and bought her a car!

Grace, later spent a few years selling our treasures on e-bay. Our house was well endowed with the antique motif as well. All to be sold when we eventually left. 

Grace worked in the Theatre Department at the college, so plays seemed a "slam dunk"...sometimes you win! We went to a few in Boston. Mostly musicals. Have to admit traveling in the van was a bit strange to her at first. I hardly ever used my car and simply didn't think about it much. Sold it finally. When we did our weekend foraging it came in handy.

We both had tests for each other, not sure if they were tests on a conscious level or not, but they worked that way. She got me first when she said we were going to visit her Aunts on sunday. "Really? Where?" Aunt Emma's in Malden. OK.

I think I was the only male there, or perhaps it only seemed that way. Emma, Queena, Anna, Nancy, Grace. Oh yeah they had a great time! I'm not really bashful so I joined in and enjoyed myself too. Must have passed that one!

About a month later I returned the favor. We went for Christmas brunch at my sister-in-law's house. That would be the sisters of Mary-Ellen's. My first wife. This was something that I didn't stop doing after the divorce. I just kept the entire family with one exception. And of course during the meal Mary-Ellen called and Grace was introduced! Heh, heh heh! May have gotten ahead with that one. Don't worry it didn't last. We've been married a long time and that was the only time that I "might" have been ahead!

Finding nice restaurants with some kind of nice music turned out to be our true "night out". Over the year's we have found several and are happy to say some extremely nice folks are life long friends because of our search. Naturally there is one food story that I have to relate. 

My buddy Ken and I had spent a few beers more than needed at the club and decided to go have a nice meal. I called Grace and asked her to join us. She did not seem all that thrilled with my choice but did agree. She had not been to O'Fados. 
A nice Portuguese place, more like a club in Peabody Square. A place that I had been too with my daughters. I think Ken got the pork and clam mariscado...not sure. I ordered the Quail and Grace (the adventuress) got steak. And as you would guess really liked my Quail...the steak was pretty good too, but I knew that anyway. The owners remodeled the place, big, loud, pretty? Then they divorced...it's still there, just not the same.

As I said we have been married for several years, some low points but mostly I would have to say we figured the adult dating thing out ok.