2. Celebrations
3:25 pm, Thursday, 11 April
Randle and I go out for a celebratory beer and burger. I suppose we could do better with the money headed our way, but frugal old habits die hard! Maybe that's why I bought the gift.
Heading home to share the exciting news with Dana, I see it. Dana has always dreamed of owning a Mini Cooper. I have no idea why, it seems like a tiny, pointless car to me. But she has always liked small things that are full of character...hence our small apartment! I drive right past a car lot just two blocks from our place. We have stopped there on occasion, when just strolling the ‘burbs, and Dana has often looked longingly at the cars in the showroom.
Well, call it a whim, a high, loads of money…LOL...whatever. I pull in and buy Dana a blue Mini Cooper with everything included. I think the salesman is still in a state of shock. The whole deal is done and dusted in under an hour - what's with this under an hour thing? I've got the keys and now I'm going to give her the gift of her life. She deserves it after all the sacrifices she has made over the last few years with me working long hours.
Heading home to share the exciting news with Dana, I see it. Dana has always dreamed of owning a Mini Cooper. I have no idea why, it seems like a tiny, pointless car to me. But she has always liked small things that are full of character...hence our small apartment! I drive right past a car lot just two blocks from our place. We have stopped there on occasion, when just strolling the ‘burbs, and Dana has often looked longingly at the cars in the showroom.
Well, call it a whim, a high, loads of money…LOL...whatever. I pull in and buy Dana a blue Mini Cooper with everything included. I think the salesman is still in a state of shock. The whole deal is done and dusted in under an hour - what's with this under an hour thing? I've got the keys and now I'm going to give her the gift of her life. She deserves it after all the sacrifices she has made over the last few years with me working long hours.
7:12pm, Thursday, 11 April
Dana has no idea what is about to happen. I tell her nothing about what went on today, despite her numerous questions. All I say is, "Get dressed for dinner, we are going out."
I book a table for two at La Belle Shiraz, one of the best restaurants around. In fact we have never been to it, as I couldn't justify the prices. But now, well now I have the money and its time to celebrate. Oh yes, I also bought Dana a gold bracelet. Another whim! But I thought that when I give her the keys to her new car I want it to be in a nice case. So I bought a gold bracelet, and when she opens that she will also get the keys. This is going to be so amazing!
I book a table for two at La Belle Shiraz, one of the best restaurants around. In fact we have never been to it, as I couldn't justify the prices. But now, well now I have the money and its time to celebrate. Oh yes, I also bought Dana a gold bracelet. Another whim! But I thought that when I give her the keys to her new car I want it to be in a nice case. So I bought a gold bracelet, and when she opens that she will also get the keys. This is going to be so amazing!
7:28pm, Thursday, 11 April
We arrive at La Belle Shiraz but the moment is somewhat spoiled by an idiot. Just after being seated I decide to visit the restroom. On my way back a swing door bursts open bashing me to the floor as some moron waiter darts out. "Sorry. Sorry sir," he jabbers, as he darts out while hurriedly dressing himself.
"What the heck are you doing you idiot? I thought this was meant to be a top restaurant!" "Sorry sir. I really am sorry," he replies. "I am just so late for work. My son had to be taken urgently to hospital and I had to take two buses and a train to get there. Now I'm late for work and I can't afford to lose this job. Please forgive me. I really am sorry."
By this stage I have calmed down, and the joy of my day seeps back.
"OK, I don’t want to hear your life history," I say as I head back to Dana. Nothing is going to spoil this day and my surprise for Dana.
"What the heck are you doing you idiot? I thought this was meant to be a top restaurant!" "Sorry sir. I really am sorry," he replies. "I am just so late for work. My son had to be taken urgently to hospital and I had to take two buses and a train to get there. Now I'm late for work and I can't afford to lose this job. Please forgive me. I really am sorry."
By this stage I have calmed down, and the joy of my day seeps back.
"OK, I don’t want to hear your life history," I say as I head back to Dana. Nothing is going to spoil this day and my surprise for Dana.
7:37pm, Thursday, 11 April
"Come on Malo, when are you going to tell me about what happened today?" Dana pleads yet again.
"Patience. You've waited six years, a few more minutes won’t kill you," I teasingly reply. "Let's place our order and then I'll tell you all about it."
"OK, but I am getting indigestion from the suspense," she replies flashing her beautiful smile at me.
There has always been something magical about her smile. It's not just a normal smile, it somehow ignites her whole face. When she was just a kid she appeared in numerous magazines modeling clothes. I say it was because her smile made the photo come alive. She says it was because her uncle was an editor for a related publication. Whatever the reason, her smile is beaming at me once again. It has been a while. Maybe I have just been too busy. Too distracted.
"So I am trying to decide...the Seared Foie Gras in Phyllo parcels or the Crusted Duck Confit? Decisions, decisions," I say. At least Dana is here to help me with this one.
"Well I'm just going to have the Seared Fillet in the Shiraz reduction. Apparently that's one of their signature dishes," she replies. "Yeah, so I heard, but I am in a wild, brave, out-there, take-a-chance mood. So I want to try something I would normally never have. I think I'm going to go for the Foie Gras. Why not?"
The scene is set. The moment is perfect. A symphony of taste, smell, sight and sound surely blended in heaven itself. A weave of the bursting flavor of Moët champagne, the tantalizing smell of the best food, the candle-lit beauty of Dana, and my song request, Liszt's Liebesträume painting the air the color of love.
"Close your eyes," I say. Dana giggles, that beautiful infectious sound it seems I haven’t heard for ever. I place the simply wrapped blue box in front of her. "Right, open your eyes."
"What's this?" she asks. "I thought you were going to tell me about the deal today."
"I am. Just open the box."
With almost child-like excitement Dana tentatively unwraps the small box.
The magic continues. The small diamond-embedded gold bracelet sparkles like stars on a clear winter's night.
"Wow," Dana gushes as she tentatively lifts the bracelet from the box, "It's beautiful, it's so..." Just then her eyes catch sight of the edge of the key poking out from the soft velvet in the box. "What's this?" she asks drawing out the keys and looking inquiringly at me.
"That, Dana, is what happened today!"
"Patience. You've waited six years, a few more minutes won’t kill you," I teasingly reply. "Let's place our order and then I'll tell you all about it."
"OK, but I am getting indigestion from the suspense," she replies flashing her beautiful smile at me.
There has always been something magical about her smile. It's not just a normal smile, it somehow ignites her whole face. When she was just a kid she appeared in numerous magazines modeling clothes. I say it was because her smile made the photo come alive. She says it was because her uncle was an editor for a related publication. Whatever the reason, her smile is beaming at me once again. It has been a while. Maybe I have just been too busy. Too distracted.
"So I am trying to decide...the Seared Foie Gras in Phyllo parcels or the Crusted Duck Confit? Decisions, decisions," I say. At least Dana is here to help me with this one.
"Well I'm just going to have the Seared Fillet in the Shiraz reduction. Apparently that's one of their signature dishes," she replies. "Yeah, so I heard, but I am in a wild, brave, out-there, take-a-chance mood. So I want to try something I would normally never have. I think I'm going to go for the Foie Gras. Why not?"
The scene is set. The moment is perfect. A symphony of taste, smell, sight and sound surely blended in heaven itself. A weave of the bursting flavor of Moët champagne, the tantalizing smell of the best food, the candle-lit beauty of Dana, and my song request, Liszt's Liebesträume painting the air the color of love.
"Close your eyes," I say. Dana giggles, that beautiful infectious sound it seems I haven’t heard for ever. I place the simply wrapped blue box in front of her. "Right, open your eyes."
"What's this?" she asks. "I thought you were going to tell me about the deal today."
"I am. Just open the box."
With almost child-like excitement Dana tentatively unwraps the small box.
The magic continues. The small diamond-embedded gold bracelet sparkles like stars on a clear winter's night.
"Wow," Dana gushes as she tentatively lifts the bracelet from the box, "It's beautiful, it's so..." Just then her eyes catch sight of the edge of the key poking out from the soft velvet in the box. "What's this?" she asks drawing out the keys and looking inquiringly at me.
"That, Dana, is what happened today!"