Once upon a time, in a quaint little corner of the world, after a solid 21 years of harmonious matrimony, my darling wife hit me with an unexpected curveball. She wanted me to take another woman out for dinner and a movie night! Now, hold your horses because my wife wasn’t cooking up a scandal. Quite the contrary—this was an act of love. She told me, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”
The mysterious ‘other woman’ was none other than my dear old mum. A widow for nearly two decades and somewhat neglected by my busy life filled with work demands and parenting my three energetic little ones. I realized she deserved a ‘date’ more than anyone.
Setting the Stage
That very night, I summoned up the courage and rang her up, suggesting a night out. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she quizzed, in her genuinely concerned tone—like many mothers who suspect that random calls signify something awry.
“I just thought it would be nice to spend some time with you,” I reassured her. “Just the two of us.” She pondered for a bit but turned her initial apprehension into joy, confirming, “I would like that very much.”
Fast forward to Friday. I drove over, a tad jittery, but that nervousness turned gentle as I noticed mum eagerly waiting by the door, beautifully dressed and hair carefully curled. She wore a dress from her last anniversary. With a twinkle in her eye, she told me her friends were all ears about our “date.”
A Night to Remember
We headed to a modest, yet cozy restaurant. She gleefully took my arm like a queen entering her courts. As we settled, I dutifully read the menu aloud since her eyes now struggled with the tiny prints. As I looked up, there she was, gazing at me with a wistful smile. “I used to read the menu for you,” she reminisced. “Well, it’s time for me to return the favor,” I chuckled back.
The conversation was pleasant, cooking its way through stories of our lives and sometimes silent but filled with warmth. We talked so much that we blissfully missed the movie. No biggie, because we were wrapped in the moment—our sort of “blockbuster.”
As I dropped her back, she lit up and proposed, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I laughingly agreed. This was a moment suspended in time.
The Unexpected
At home, my wife was curious, “How was your dinner date?” “Beyond wonderful,” I replied, feeling a warm glow of satisfaction.
A few days later, fate slammed us with the inevitable—my mother left us. A sudden heart attack took her without any warning, leaving a void I hadn’t imagined possible. Later, I received an envelope with the bill from our dinner, alongside a note from Mum: “I paid for your next dinner, in case I wasn’t there. Never forget, I love you.”
That day, a realization dawned on me—saying “I love you” and gifting our time to family is precious beyond measure. Life’s grand treasures are stored in these heartfelt moments that can’t be shelved for ‘another time.’ Cherish your family and seize the day.
A Gentle Reminder
So, if there’s someone you’ve been meaning to spend time with, don’t wait. Grab the phone, work that calendar magic, and make it happen. Because love truly never waits. Share this light and love with your dear ones.
