My Saturday Night Date - ThinnerTimes

Claire-in-Texas · 09-15-2007, 06:29 PM

I was invited out on a date tonight.

My husband, Glen, and my two doggies and I were in the living room, when Glen looked at Missy and Benji and asked them if they would like to invite Mom to come along on a Gator ride. They nodded yes (oh, sure they did!), and Glen was the one who vocalized the invitation. I heartily accepted! And we rode around, with Missy and Benji in the truck bed (I was permitted by the dogs to take their favorite seat - the passenger seat). It's always fun, and there is always so much to see.

Here are two pictures that were taken last January when we got the Gator. I was at my pre-op weight then - I don't look like that now! Honest! Picture of my husband in the Gator as he drove it down the driveway from the road (and then I grabbed it from him!!). The pretty red dog in Glen's picture is not ours - he just thinks he's ours. He belongs to our next door neighbor. His name is Red, and he comes calling quite often to play with my little furchildren.

I love our Saturday night dates!

And here are Missy (golden Lhasa Apso, 10 years old), and Benji (white Lhasa Apso, 6 years old)

And this is the late Wesley - he loved the Gator, too, and his spirit is always with us!

Corrine · 09-15-2007, 07:18 PM

LOL!

Claire - it looks like your Saturday evening date was a whole lot more exciting than mine.

I love the look of your Gator - it looks practical and safe and there's plenty of room on the back. If Missy and Benji decide that they want the passenger seat all to themselves - you can lay in the back!

And thanks for the picture of Wesley. I'm sure he was watching over all of you. Hugs.

Claire-in-Texas · 09-15-2007, 07:24 PM

Corrine, thank you!!!

The Gator is a true utility vehicle and we utilize it daily for one thing or another. Glen takes the trash away in it, and then that back can be lifted up, and the back lip of the truck bed can lay flat, and down comes the trash from the truck bed just like a slide!! That's just one example.

I wanted it so that I could get around and see the lovely countryside during all the various blooming times - and it's a great place to just relax the mind and feel a part of the outdoors environment.

I told Glen - it's MINE, and he can borrow it any time IF I get first dibs on it!!!!

When I walk to the door to leave the house, the dogs run out and immediately go sit in the passenger seat (we keep the Gator in our carport). And they look so sad when I drive off in a REAL car, which they aren't so happy to ride in (it represents vets, grooming, etc.).

We frequently ride the Gator as a family on Saturday evenings, for some reason. And it is really such a lovely experience for us all.

Jeanie · 09-15-2007, 10:07 PM

What cute little puppies, and how totally COOL that you guys have Saturday night dates all the time. I think every couple should have a date night.

LyndasRoom · 09-15-2007, 10:13 PM

What a sweet way to spend Saturday night!

OsoDelDesierto · 09-15-2007, 10:30 PM

Saturday date nights - what a wonderful idea for keeping romance alive! You and Glen look adorable in your Gator (what fun!) and I loved the furbaby pics, especially Wesley's!

Claire-in-Texas · 09-16-2007, 05:24 AM

Actually, Eric, it is really very romantic, but not the kind of romantic that you see on the screens - not hot and heavy. It's the kind of romantic that comes with age (we are 67 and 70), and with time, and with understanding. It is warm and wonderful and loving. I hold his arm, he takes my hand, all to the panting of the two pups in the truck bed.

And the feeling I get when we do our "dates" is the same as I get walking on the beach at sundown (the sun was going down last evening) - it's peaceful and I feel very content.

When I feel stress, I sometimes take the Gator out into the countryside, just to look at nature and enjoy the sounds and sights. It settles me down.

I will have to get our neighbor to take our picture - the four of us together - in the Gator. It's such a big part of what we do here together that is fun fun fun.

Next Saturday night will not be a Gator night. We have a date to go to the Washington County Fair. And now that I look normal in size (kinda), I have new cowboy boots, cowboy hat, proper denims, etc. There will be a big rodeo, a country singer (nobody you would recognize), lots of cattle that people look at and see things that defy my comprehension (can you tell I'm a city girl?), and lots of tractors, food vendors (not for meeeee!), carnival rides for the kids. It's a big one, and I'm looking forward to it. Glen and I had our first real date there, many years ago. It's a very big deal here, and when I first went I thought I was in the twilight zone. But now I'm used to this life, living with a rancher who loves the land, and learning to appreciate and respect that love and enjoy it with him and in my own way.

OsoDelDesierto · 09-16-2007, 07:09 AM

Your enduring romance and deep respect for each other is inspiring! You make a wonderful couple, despite your very different backgrounds, and you sound like you really enjoy each other's company...

When you go to the Washington County Fair next week, looking dynamite in your red boots and sequins (I take it you found a suitable hat - yeeee haw!), you are going to blow the hats off the heads of the ranchers, not to mention knocking their socks (and boots) off! It might even make the national news...

Now, send us some pics! We want pics from the fair!

CarlieGirl · 09-16-2007, 07:50 AM

that is so sweet and romantic!

Claire-in-Texas · 09-16-2007, 10:08 AM

Thank you, Carlie!

Eric, you are TOO MUCH! LOL

I DID find a red cowboy hat, covered with sequins (red). And I found a light blue cowboy hat that I will do some decorating on (those are the colors of my boots). And I will bring a camera!!!