The Perfect Date (A post Valentine special)

When my editor started soliciting for stories for our Valentine Special issues, I panicked! My supposed feature subject never got back to me. “The day” was nearing and I still got no story. I had such a great story last year and I wanted a follow up. Unknowingly, the story that I have been looking for, was actually waiting for me on Valentine’s Day itself.

To most single men and women, Valentine’s Day is a dreadful notion. Lucky for me, cupid’s day has become more of a family tradition (like that of Christmas). Rather than patronizing on romance and intimacy, every year the family always sets out to dine in some fancy restaurant and end the rest of the evening at home with a super fattening dessert at  hand over a healthy conversation.

This year was no exception. Well, let me take that back. Instead of dining out, my mother prepared a bountiful spread at our dinner table and I for one skipped on the tradition for a date. Yes, a date with a very good friend.

Nursing a broken heart since the end of last year could have been a glitch for me. And stretching up to February would have made it doubly unbearable. But having been on this difficult road before, I’d say, it was no different. So how do you get over someone you’ve been with for quite sometime? How do you rid yourself of what has been? Experts say, it takes an average of six months after break-up for one to start a clean slate—move on, so to speak. It may be clinically true but when it comes to matters of the heart and emotions, I have learned to be just practical. I take things in stride – there’s always tomorrow. Sure, you can cry a river of tears, get drunk on occasion, go insane at a certain point or even sulk in a corner of your room for weeks. You’re allowed to, but only momentarily. Just enough time to vent out all the frustrations and raging emotions. Don’t let it consume you. Remember, you are now swimming in the open sea. Enjoy your freedom, have fun!

And that’s  exactly what I did. If there’s anything I know definitely it is that during times like these the best way to get over someone is to surround yourself with friends. That’s right! That support group that regardless of what happens will always be there to be your sounding board, give encouragement and, when needed, punches you with the awful truth.

The weather on Valentine week was mostly damp but not even the slightest drop of rain could spoil my date. We made our way to our hosts’ (a young couple) garden residence by the beach, opened the evening with a bottle of vintage wine and some appetizing conversation. By the time we started dinner, downpour! But we all continued the evening mindless of the weather, drowning ourselves with good food, great wine, a sinful dessert dashed with interesting (and exciting) talk about love, sex and relationships. It was a wonderful evening. I went home feeling good about myself and, for some reason, hopeful.

Well, apart from the non-stop showers, I’d say it was a date that was simply perfect. And to my dear friend(s), thank you.