So, this is where it started. Yep, 19 years old, just finished sophomore year of college—wildly in love, but knowing nothing about what those wedding vows really meant. Fast forward, college graduation, move back to Pennsylvania from Boston, first real jobs, 1st house, 1st baby boy, buy and run a business together, buy 2nd house, 2nd baby boy, homeschooling, law school—wait, what?? Law School—that was not part of the plan! I was a full-time stay-at-home, homeschooling mama (ie NO INCOME). How was this going to work? Boys are 2 & 7.
We own a business in our hometown of Mifflinburg, PA (60 miles from Harrisburg). Well, here goes. August of 2005, Joe starts Law School at night at Widener in Harrisburg while working full-time running an Erie Insurance Agency and driving 120 miles round trip 3 nights/week. Not sure what you know about Law School, but you have to do the reading;). These very circumstances are what I remember as the reason date night became of paramount importance. Since we started dating at the age of 16, Joe and I have always spent large portions of time together. We like each other, enjoy the same things, understand each other, need each other. All of a sudden, we were seeing each other minimally (like minutes/day) for the first time since freshman year of college (I was at Penn State; he was in Boston for freshman year, which we quickly remedied for sophomore year.) In addition to seeing each other minimally, pressures were running high. We were raising and educating two precious boys, trying to pay bills, keep a business afloat, run a house…you get the picture. This is when I remember us making “date night” of the highest priority. We needed that 2 hours to connect, debrief, and just look at each other and be together. I got to do my hair, put on cute clothes and makeup, and just be Joe’s girl, instead of a mom, housewife, bill payer, teacher, etc. It was not fancy—we had no $$. We would often go across the street to the “Scarlet D” a bar/restaurant catty-corner from our house in Mifflinburg.
We could walk (no gas $), shorter time to get a babysitter (often a grandparent), and it was fairly cheap. Food was mediocre; beer was as expected. It didn’t matter. We were desperate for this time together. This was our attempt at surviving as a couple despite the grueling week ahead. This is how our habit of “date night” was born.
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