Father-Son Date Mother-Daughter β Pt. 1 of 2
"Dad, you have to get out of the house once in a while β do something, meet people, see the outside world β be social ... get laid."
I protested, "I do. I do. I ... went to the movies last week. I walked to the theater too, and even peeked into that new restaurant they're building on Main." I ignored the last of his comments. Except for people at work β the same ones day after day, and clients β mostly the same ones day after day, that was as social as I got. I hadn't 'gotten laid' in well over three years β or maybe it was four. The more I thought about it, I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had sex it was so long ago.
My son rolled his eyes, "Your business contacts don't count in my book. Mostly, you've done little but sit in your chair staring into the back yard or trod into work and put in your time."
"I like my yard and my job." My job was the lead partner in a legal and accounting firm of Morris, Whitney, and Eaton or MWE as we usually said. I was Morris, and had two junior partners. I specialized in estate planning for high-end clients. We did very well in this market.
My son sounded exasperated, "Why? Root cause, why?"
I knew he wanted to know why I wasn't getting out, but I tried to divert the conversation to a discussion about the yard.
"Well, your mother took such good care of the yard. I have done some weeding, but it'll never look as good as when she was caring for it. The landscape guys that come only do the grass and edging, unless I ask for something special. They always use those damn noisy grass blowers too; I hate those. As for my job, I love it because it's so consuming."
The truth was I saw Edith in every little thing in the house and yard. We'd been married for almost thirty years before she passed, and I missed her more than anything. I hurt to even think about her, but I thought about her all the time.
Todd said, "Dad, Mom's been gone almost two years. It's time to move on and stop hiding from life. I'm not saying you have to forget her. We all loved her dearly and will continue to until we're gone. She wouldn't want you sitting at home moping and pining away for her, or working twelve to fifteen hour days just to avoid the real world. I know she told you to move on with your life after she died."
"I know. I'll try to get motivated."
This discussion was not new. Todd had given me about eight months to get over my wife's premature passing, and then he'd slowly started to nudge me to get out and do something social. He'd started to get really aggressive about it recently.
As a master of passive-aggressive behavior, I'd agree with him and do nothing. After that, he'd suggest general things, and I'd do nothing, and then he got specific but I always had something that got in the way β work things usually.
Todd said, "How about I help you? Would you go on a double date with me?"
I guffawed at his totally new approach to getting me out and about, "A double date with my son? You're kidding, right? You'd pick some cute girl your age for me, and there I'd be not knowing what to say, even how to talk about the music of your age, and her having no idea what real rock and roll is about, or stuff everyone my age knows. She'd think of me as an old fart."
I was fifty-two years old, and despite my upscale job and lifestyle, I'd managed to remain trim without much effort. Todd was twenty-six and unbelievably handsome. I'd watched girls practically fall at his feet and beg to be his slaves, but he remained aloof from their charms and always seemed to be in control of the situation.
Todd argued, "You know more than you think, besides I would not try to set you up with a person my age. I met this girl at work. She's nice, and her mother works in my company too. They're both good looking, smart, great jobs, and I'm sure you'd have a nice evening; I was thinking we could team up. You know, divide and conquer. You take the mom β a divorcΓ©e who is not bitter about it the way some women are; she's full of life, vim, vigor, wit and very pleasant; and I'll take the daughter β Sarah, who is also a gem."
I rolled my eyes, "You are really determined to do this β to get me out of this chair and house, aren't you?" I gestured at the outside world with one hand.
"Very." Todd crossed his arms across his chest and tried to look powerful and in charge. I thought he bore a slight resemblance the way he was standing to Mr. Clean.
I stared into the yard again β thinking. Edith told me quite specifically not to sit at home. She even made me promise to get out and be with people, even telling me I should get married again. Despite my salt and pepper hair, I was still a vital person in my early fifties. I had a few good years left β well, a few months anyway.
Todd had stopped grieving at the loss of his mother after six months. For me, it might never stop. I ran that through past my 'What would Edith do?' filter. She'd tell me to get off my ass and go out. She'd even laugh and tell me to go get laid.
"OK." I said the two syllables precisely and clearly.
Todd whirled on his feet. I could tell he'd been about to protest my reluctance. "What? You will?"
I nodded. "You're catching me at a weak moment."
"I'll set something up for this coming weekend." Todd grinned with happiness. He was a catch β the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, plus he was well off by way of a great job, had a winning personality, and a wicked sense of humor. After college, he'd gotten a job in sales for Gleason Glass Works.
Todd worked the east coast part of the country territory from Virginia to Ohio to Maine, traveling for a few days many weeks to visit prospects for the special industrial-grade glass products his company made. He'd hit the ground running, and already had a reputation as a 'hot shot' in the company. He was going places β fast. His latest coup was an all-glass clad skyscraper in Manhattan. The job was worth millions, and his bonus had let him buy a sedate but hot car β a new Jaguar F-type convertible. He also had a pile of money left over. He was truly sex on wheels in that car. I guessed there were few women that weren't subjugating themselves to his every whim. He didn't give most of them a chance, however.