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The Goddess Speaks
Wanda Kulamanu Ellis Au
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Valentine’s date works
I took a deep breath. My fingers trembled on the telephone dial. It had been nearly 50 years since I'd called a guy for a date. What if he refused? Could I survive the rejection? Would I be so dejected I could never again summon the courage to ask a man out for Valentine's Day dinner?
But then, I reasoned, maybe I was being too prudish and old-fashioned. I rationalized that in this high-tech, fast-paced, liberated society, assertive women often make the first bold move and men expect it.
He answered in the same, crackly voice I remembered so well. "Guess who?" I burbled incoherently, like Minnie Mouse.
"Elizabeth Taylor? Sophia Loren? I give up." When I identified myself, he seemed pleased. "You sound the same," he said encouragingly. "Still young and sexy."
So far, so good. With that, my self-confidence inched up a notch. Brazenly, I took the cue and ran with it. We talked about our days at the University of Hawaii and laughed over the rutty, muddy vacant lot where he parked his '38 Chevy and where Sinclair Library now stands. We reminisced over lunch dates at the long-gone Leroy's Restaurant on the Kakaako Waterfront and jitterbugging to their honky-tonk band. What ever happened to our favorite Palace and Princess theaters?
At my first opportunity, I asked him if he would like to relive more memories by going out on a date. "Mais oui!" He actually said yes! Not only had I not been refused, he even suggested tonight!
Ecstatic, I called my daughter. In between quieting down three active children and a barking dog in hot pursuit, she excitedly reviewed her list of dating do's and don'ts. "It's been a while," she said, "so don't blow it."
She further advised, "You must wear your sexy, red chiffon dress with the spaghetti straps. That way, he'll immediately notice you're still the same size 8 you were 50 years ago."
But what about him? What size might he be after 50 years? Mightn't he be just a bit paunchy or overweight? Could he be bald? Toothless? All of the above?
I need not have worried. The years had been kind to him. He was still tall, lean and flat-bellied. His once dark hair was now a distinguished gray and went well with the blue Tori-Richards silk shirt he wore. He handed me a bouquet of red Kamuela roses, which I placed in a vase on the piano. "Roses for a beauty," he said simply but appreciatively. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Our dinner was memorable, overlooking the boat harbor in Ala Moana. We talked about ourselves, family, kids, grandkids and friends. And when there was nothing else to talk about, we just looked at each other and smiled. Then he reached across the table and took both my hands in his. "This was very enjoyable," he said. "I had a great time, the best Valentine's Day. Can we do this again?"
My heart was singing as I leaned forward and whispered, "My dear, it will be our 50th wedding anniversary in June." By then I should be ready to test out the next chapter of this fabulous book, "A Dozen Creative Ways to Seduce Your Husband All Over Again."
The Goddess Speaks is a feature column by and about women. If you have something to say, write "The Goddess Speaks," 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210,
Honolulu 96813 or e-mail
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