Chapter Sixteen

Love and Romance

Boring story! My first official date was with my husband. I had gone skating a couple times with the IBM repairman who would rescue my typewriter at work from time to time, but it wasn't really a date. There was no romantic interest; we were simply friends.

Thompson, Hine and Flory were mostly corporate lawyers, handling the affairs of large corporations, not just in Cleveland but in several other states. When a new business opened in Cleveland, they were the go-to lawyers to put the corporate paperwork and necessary licenses in order. While the attorney I worked for handled estate planning and probate, most other attorneys focused on large corporations such as Chessie System, Hobart Manufacturing, Sherwin Williams, DuPont, and more.

A new nightclub was opening its doors and TH&F played a key role in the new business. As a token of appreciation for their efforts, everyone at the firm was given two tickets for a pre-opening night concert. I simply assumed that I wouldn't go since I had no one to share the evening with.

Two of my friends from work were dating. Mary Ann's office was in another hall but we spent some time together skiing at Peak'n Peak in Clymer, New York. It was only about a 4-hour drive from home, so we would get up early, drive to NY, ski all day, then drive home. Linda Burnham from school often went with us. At times, Chuck, Mary Ann's boyfriend, went with us as well.

Chuck learned that I didn't have a date for the pre-opening night of the Mad Hatter discotheque. He told me he could set me up with his roommate if I really wanted to go. I was brave enough to tell him yes, that would be fine.

To be honest, I had met my husband one early Saturday morning as I stopped to pick Chuck up for a ski trip. He doesn't remember me specifically but remembers three girls in their apartment and Chuck left with them.

Opening night came and I was so nervous. I bought a new outfit from Casual Corner and took it to work with me because my parents would have a fit if they knew what I had planned. I told them I was going to Chris's house so we could go swimming at the YMCA. The real plan was to have my date take me to Chris's house when we left the Mad Hatter.

This man I was with liked to drink! Of course, I had a couple rum and cokes but knew I didn't dare drink more. I hadn't yet turned 20 so whatever I drank was illegal.

We had a nice time but my date didn't dance. I felt grounded because music was in my bones and I really wanted to dance. But, because he wasn't going to, I decided to sit at the table with him and watch others have a great time on the disco floor.

When we left, he drove me to Willowick so I could spend the night with Chris and not have to explain everything to Mom and Dad. When we pulled in the driveway, he gently kissed me and left. I really liked him but don't know why. I hoped I would see him again.

The next morning I was sitting at my desk and my phone rang. It was him. He asked if he could take me to dinner that evening. Without hesitating, I said yes. But then I had the problem of breaking the news to Mom and Dad so I called my Dad at work. He was easy to talk to and always encouraged me no matter what I wanted to do. I felt it was safe to tell him even if I had to bend the truth a bit to gain his approval. He agreed that I could go to dinner but he had to meet him first.

My date had a beautiful car, and worked as a comper operator at Society National Bank in Cleveland. After all the formalities, we left for my first official date with my soon-to-be husband. The Brown Derby was his choice. I had been there before with my family and was excited to go back again. It was on Brookpark Road, right across from Cleveland Airport.

The evening went well. We talked a lot while enjoying the meal. We drove around for a while after dinner and he finally took me home. That's when I experienced my first real kiss. He left and I was on cloud nine! This was the beginning of our courtship. He was the only man who ever kissed me, the only man I've ever dated, the only man I've ever loved. It seemed as if we were destined to be together.

Our first date was April 22, 1971. We married on February 12, 1972, nine months and twenty-one days later.