Time over Merlot

"Knowing your keyboard is not the same as knowing a person", Allison said across the table with a questioning look on her brow. "I came here to get to know you, and for you to get to know me", she continued. Jim looked up from his phone, until his eyes met Allison's. A cocky smile came across his face. "Well sweetheart, we are going to have many, many years together, no need to learn everything about each other all in one night", he said as his eyes returned to his phone. Allison gasped. "The nerve!" she exclaimed, and threw her napkin down at the table. Unmoved by her show of emotion, Jim motioned to the waiter across the room, first circling his index finger above his head, and then pointing down towards the table. Under the table, he turned his phone off and slid it into his pants pocket. He slowly brought his empty hands up to the table submitting them for Allison's inspection. The smile still on his face, he said "Sweetheart, I just had to finish that little bit of business, now I'm all yours". The waiter came and set two glasses before them, and poured from a bottle of Merlot. Allison's eyes cooled and face softened. "Allison, I have to do certain things to pay for this dinner", Jim said as he spread his arms out, coaxing her to look around. "But, if you noticed, I was in a hurry to get those certain things done", he continued. He lifted his glass, inviting Allison to do the same. "I wanted to hurry and get those things done, so I can slow down and be with you. Look at this wine sweetheart. Look at the color, smell it, you can almost taste it already. It's the same way I feel about being here with you. One doesn't gulp it down in a big hurry. You sip it, enjoy it", he went on. Allison's complexion was changing as they both took their first sip. Jim heard a faint laugh from across the table. "Smooth talker. You're laying it on pretty thick sailor", she said. "But, go on", she beckoned. Obviously, she was attracted to the tone of his voice. She also studied his face as he continued, "Wine speaks to you". He smelled the glass, glancing up at her and then back down to the glass. "If you just take your time and enjoy everything about it, it begins to tell you where it came from, what it's been through over time, like a person would. If you listen to it very closely, you can hear it say 'slowly, pace yourself'", he whispered holding the glass to his ear. She did the same, and they both laughed and took another sip. Over dinner, they continued sipping, always simultaneously. They began sharing where they were from, their favorite songs and singers, their favorite movies and actors. They spoke of books and teachers they had back in school. They spoke of all sorts of experiences and adventures they had with friends in their youth. If there were patrons sitting at the empty tables near them, they might have thought Jim and Allison spoke on the verge of being inappropriate as the bottle of wine diminished. They would have heard them sharing how each one of them had three children, and laughing about being there together even though they both were married. But, they wouldn't have guessed that they had been married to each other for over 45 years, and that they had their first date 46 years ago on a Monday. Jim's self confidence never waned over the years, but to him it wasn't self confidence, it was the confidence that he found the right girl. Every Monday evening for 46 years they spent together with a bottle of Merlot, sometimes more when they were younger. This alone is quite an extraordinary feat, and yet with Jim's undying appreciation of his Allison, he keeps the tradition to this day. They never even changed the name, first date, every Monday evening has been 'first date' for them. Through their many failures and challenges, as well as their successes, they spent every Monday evening together. The places might have been different. Their emotions might even be different as they sat down. But, each first date night always ended with enjoying each other with laughter and a dance. Ones closest to them describe them as the happiest couple they ever met. Jim is 79 and his Allison is 82. "Whether it's our first date or our 1000th, you're always my dream date", Jim said to Allison across the table. For the last couple of years, Allison's eyesight has declined some, and she has had short term memory problems. After hours, Jim finally stood up, took a few steps towards Allison, bent over and whispered in her ear. He extended his hand. She rose up regally and followed him to the center of the room. They danced.