How It Began
They were a bit of an odd couple; not just
because of the differences in their sizes but also the
differences in their religious beliefs. He was an
atheist. More of a cultural Jew than a true Jew as her
family would consider one to be. She had grown up in a
religious Jewish home and still kept most of the
religious customs. Yet, from the moment they had met
something had clicked. They had been dating for two
months and though neither had spoken about it they both
understood that they were dating exclusively.
Their lives were very full. Thus, they usually
only saw each other one evening a week....usually the
weekend. But, they spoke for hours on the phone each
evening neither wanting to say good-night. One day, on a
week day, he called and asked her to have dinner with
him. She paused, thinking for a moment...what to do?
"You know it is Passover so I can't eat. But, I
will join you and have a cup of tea while you have
dinner."
So, they went to an upscale Jewish Deli
where he could have one of his favorite foods...a corned
beef sandwich. This was not your average corned beef
sandwich. Very lean corned beef was stacked a mile high
between two slices of rye bread. Served with all the
Kosher dill pickles one desired and potato salad.
They sat across from each other. Gazing lovingly
while he devoured his sandwich and she sipped her tea.
The restaurant was quite crowded. Apparently fewer
people were abstaining from the forbidden foods of the
Holiday. For this was definitely a Jewish neighborhood
and one would be hard pressed to find a non-Jew among
the customers. She felt less guilty about being there
during Passover.
"You know, I've been thinking,"
he said after swallowing a bite of his sandwich. Sheer
delight was on his face and she didn't now if it was
because he was looking at her or the fact that he was
relishing his sandwich.
"I've decided to move.
I'd like to live in a new apartment with new
furnishings. Do you have any suggestions?"
Her
mind was suddenly awhirl....frantic of what to
say....but, she kept a poised, pleasant look on her
face. How should she handle the situation? What was the
best thing to do? She decided to test the water
gingerly. After another sip of tea she spoke.
"I've heard that the Summerset apartments in
Rochester are wonderful for singles. Although they are a
bit pricey and somewhat on the small size Summerset has
become the "in" place for singles to live."
"Ok,
how about going over there with me this weekend? You can
help me choose an apartment and then help me pick out
the furniture!"
Hmmm, what to say? She decided
to wade a little deeper into the water. As he took
another bite of the sandwich she began.
"I don't
think that's a very good idea. After all it is your
apartment. You're the one who will be living there. So,
you should be the one to choose which apartment style
you prefer as well as the furnishings."
Then she
took another sip of her tea and smiled sweetly at him.
He started to put his sandwich down.
"Well, yes,
but you will be coming over and I want you to like the
place."
With a somewhat surprised look on her
face she answered. "I don't know that I'll be coming
over to visit." He sat dumbfounded while she continued.
"After all Rochester really is quite a distance from
here. Between teaching during the day and attending grad
school at night I really doubt that I'll have the time."
He dropped his sandwich on the plate.
"Well...uh...uhmmm...," he stammered and stuttered.
"Would you excuse me for a moment?"
There was no
time for her to answer because he stood up so quickly
and dashed toward the entrance to the restaurant. When
he returned a few minutes later he held a pack of
cigarettes in his hand.
She had never seen him
smoke. She hated cigarettes. Her father, brother, and
sister were all chain smokers and she loathed the odor
and smoke which lingered in their home.
"I
didn't know you smoke."
"I stopped three years
ago." "But, well, I just needed a cigarette," was his
answer as he quickly lit one and inhaled.
Looking down at his partially eaten sandwich he
pushed the plate away. Apparently he no longer desired
his sandwich now that he had a cigarette or had he lost
his appetite? Could it have been something she said?
Groping for words he began. "Uh, well, uh....you
know I thought that one day...uh....you and I.....uh."
He looked so uncomfortable. "Well, you know I thought
that one day we would become serious. So, I really want
you to like the apartment as well as the furnishings,"
he finished quickly and took a long drag on his
cigarette.
Slowly she sipped her tea while
looking directly into his eyes. This would be the
clincher. This would either make it or break it. Her
face flushed and she bit her lower lip. After placing
her cup on the table she took a deep breath and
calculatingly while appearing to look innocent she said,
"What, exactly, is the difference between one day and
now?"
There was a very long silence. He kept
puffing on his cigarette while she gazed adoringly at
him.
"I suppose there really is no difference,"
was his somewhat unsure answer. "Uhm, well, we really
should tell our parents."
"That's a wonderful
idea" her face glowing.
And, that, is how I
actually managed to finagle my husband into marrying me.
© shaynamaydle
Their lives were very full. Thus, they usually only saw each other one evening a week....usually the weekend. But, they spoke for hours on the phone each evening neither wanting to say good-night. One day, on a week day, he called and asked her to have dinner with him. She paused, thinking for a moment...what to do?
"You know it is Passover so I can't eat. But, I will join you and have a cup of tea while you have dinner."
So, they went to an upscale Jewish Deli where he could have one of his favorite foods...a corned beef sandwich. This was not your average corned beef sandwich. Very lean corned beef was stacked a mile high between two slices of rye bread. Served with all the Kosher dill pickles one desired and potato salad.
They sat across from each other. Gazing lovingly while he devoured his sandwich and she sipped her tea. The restaurant was quite crowded. Apparently fewer people were abstaining from the forbidden foods of the Holiday. For this was definitely a Jewish neighborhood and one would be hard pressed to find a non-Jew among the customers. She felt less guilty about being there during Passover.
"You know, I've been thinking," he said after swallowing a bite of his sandwich. Sheer delight was on his face and she didn't now if it was because he was looking at her or the fact that he was relishing his sandwich.
"I've decided to move. I'd like to live in a new apartment with new furnishings. Do you have any suggestions?"
Her mind was suddenly awhirl....frantic of what to say....but, she kept a poised, pleasant look on her face. How should she handle the situation? What was the best thing to do? She decided to test the water gingerly. After another sip of tea she spoke.
"I've heard that the Summerset apartments in Rochester are wonderful for singles. Although they are a bit pricey and somewhat on the small size Summerset has become the "in" place for singles to live."
"Ok, how about going over there with me this weekend? You can help me choose an apartment and then help me pick out the furniture!"
Hmmm, what to say? She decided to wade a little deeper into the water. As he took another bite of the sandwich she began.
"I don't think that's a very good idea. After all it is your apartment. You're the one who will be living there. So, you should be the one to choose which apartment style you prefer as well as the furnishings."
Then she took another sip of her tea and smiled sweetly at him. He started to put his sandwich down.
"Well, yes, but you will be coming over and I want you to like the place."
With a somewhat surprised look on her face she answered. "I don't know that I'll be coming over to visit." He sat dumbfounded while she continued. "After all Rochester really is quite a distance from here. Between teaching during the day and attending grad school at night I really doubt that I'll have the time."
He dropped his sandwich on the plate. "Well...uh...uhmmm...," he stammered and stuttered. "Would you excuse me for a moment?"
There was no time for her to answer because he stood up so quickly and dashed toward the entrance to the restaurant. When he returned a few minutes later he held a pack of cigarettes in his hand.
She had never seen him smoke. She hated cigarettes. Her father, brother, and sister were all chain smokers and she loathed the odor and smoke which lingered in their home.
"I didn't know you smoke."
"I stopped three years ago." "But, well, I just needed a cigarette," was his answer as he quickly lit one and inhaled.
Looking down at his partially eaten sandwich he pushed the plate away. Apparently he no longer desired his sandwich now that he had a cigarette or had he lost his appetite? Could it have been something she said?
Groping for words he began. "Uh, well, uh....you know I thought that one day...uh....you and I.....uh." He looked so uncomfortable. "Well, you know I thought that one day we would become serious. So, I really want you to like the apartment as well as the furnishings," he finished quickly and took a long drag on his cigarette.
Slowly she sipped her tea while looking directly into his eyes. This would be the clincher. This would either make it or break it. Her face flushed and she bit her lower lip. After placing her cup on the table she took a deep breath and calculatingly while appearing to look innocent she said, "What, exactly, is the difference between one day and now?"
There was a very long silence. He kept puffing on his cigarette while she gazed adoringly at him.
"I suppose there really is no difference," was his somewhat unsure answer. "Uhm, well, we really should tell our parents."
"That's a wonderful idea" her face glowing.
And, that, is how I actually managed to finagle my husband into marrying me.
© shaynamaydle
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