Tonight I wanna hold you
Turn off the lights,
Put on some slow music
Dance slow and hold you tight
I wanna feel you breathe
I wanna feel you smile,
I wanna get lost in love
And dance a while
We don’t need to say
A single thing,
Just slowly sway with me
And feel our hearts-sing
I know this feeling
It feels so right,
In my arms you’ll stay
And we’ll dance the night-away
— Travis Peterson
Normally, I write a short story about our couples, usually on how they met. This time, I had a hard time remembering the details of Adam and Lydia’s story. I remembered it was a bit complicated in how things got started for them. I didn’t want to tell it incorrectly so I asked Lydia to send me a short write up. I sat in the car on the way home yesterday and read it out loud to Vitaliy. We both sat laughing. With Vitaliy’s bellowing laughter, I knew she said it better than I ever could.
I didn’t really want to fall in love with Adam. He made me. It’s not that I didn’t think he was a wonderful friend, but there’s a difference between “great guy” and “so astoundingly wonderful I can’t imagine my life with anyone but you.” Something irrational inside me convinced me that loving every minute of 8 mile walks in the middle of Chicago’s sub-zero winter on a regular basis, did not bump him into the second category. That is, until I had to do it. I had to imagine the rest of my life without Adam. After a very clear “I’ll never date you as long as I live” from me, Adam became interested in someone else. Lucky for me, I weaseled him back, never to let go.
Adam and Lydia, after 7 years of marriage and two beautiful daughters, I’m amazed at how deep your love has grown for one another. While so many couples grow apart over the years, you guys seem to just keep growing closer. Thank you for being an inspiration for us. We love you both and can’t wait to see what your love looks like after another 7 years. I’m confident it will look even more radiant and true than it does today. But don’t worry, we won’t be waiting 7 years to see you both. Chicago is calling us back as we speak! Maybe not permanently, but definitely for a visit. ;-)
We hit the pavement and I could hear the wet crunch of city streets underneath my tires. The cool air whipped past and my fingers immediately ached with coldness. We forgot our gloves at home, but I have no regrets. It made me feel. It helped me remember. For this was a moment I wouldn’t want to soon forget.
Date Idea: Go for a bike ride together. It’s not ingenious, but it felt as if we had stumbled upon a gold mine. The treasure chest of date ideas. I had a smile plastered to my face during the entire two hour adventure.
I keep asking myself, what made this date so special? It could have to do with the vintage bikes, courtesy of the Ace Hotel. And I would say that Portland romanced me in more ways then one. But there was something about riding bikes next to my husband. Like two kids out to play. Young and free.
This one is going down in the history books. We’ll be old, gray and barely able to walk. I’ll look at Vitaliy and say, “Remember our bike ride in downtown Portland?” He’ll sip his tea, while his wrinkles overlap each other, as a smile forms across his face.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
If you like this date idea, you might enjoy one of these:
Flying Kites
Coffee Date
A Simple Sunrise
