My Best Date

Image Copyrights Steven Spielberg and Universal Studios

Of course I remember my first date. My first boyfriend, in grade nine. It's one of the best memories I have, but it's not the best date. My best date was in 2002 with my grandfather. He took me to see E.T on it's 20th anniversary re-release in theatres.

When I was a kid, I used to be able to convince my grandfather to do almost anything. How many 6'4" men have you seen carry a pink purse? What about eat a mauled, spitty cheeseburger that his grandaughter decided was too disgusting to finish. This man sat through an entire stage performance of The Polka Dot Door with me while he was hungover. That's dedication right there. Gran (that's what I called him) watched countless cartoons and movies with me, but the one we watched most was E.T. I don't doubt for one second that he hated that movie with a fiery passion. He could probably recite the entire thing from memory, and act out each scene in his sleep. He didn't watch the movie because he enjoyed it, he watched it to see my chubby, chocolate covered face while I enjoyed it.

My family was always fairly close. We had Sunday dinners together pretty regularly, and spent holidays visiting eachothers houses, but as most kids do, I started to grow up and become too 'cool' for family time. I became a little snot nosed teenager who refused to smile for pictures or talk about her personal life (not all teenagers are like this, but I sure was). On several occasions, I wormed my way out of hanging out at Nan and Gran's so that I could be with my friends. I never stopped loving my family, I was just an ass-hat who stopped telling them that I did.

In 2002, I saw a commercial that made me smile so big that it hurt my face. I actually remember my face hurting, probably because it was out of practice. They were remastering E.T and re-releasing it in theatres for a limited time. I asked my mom if she thought Gran would go see it with me, she didn't say anything, she just handed me the phone.

On the evening that we planned on going to the movie, I came home from school, ate supper, and poked around on the computer to pass the time. I didn't even hear the door open upstairs. My mom called out to me and said that my date was here. When I walked around the corner, my grandfather was standing there with a dozen red roses in his hands and a huge smile on his face. He told me that he was lucky to have such a beautiful girl on his arm.

When we got to the theatre, he bought me snacks and we found the best seats. He smiled the entire time. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him randomly look over at me during the movie to see my reactions, which only made him smile more. When he dropped me off at home later that night, he told me that he loved me, and thanked me for inviting him.

It's been three years and three days since my Gran died. At some point, I pulled the stick out of my ass and got over my teen angst. I made lots of happy memories with my family between that night and the day I lost my Gran, but I remember this memory every day.

I know this isn't my usual silly blog post, but I wouldn't be the person I am today without having had this man in my life. In a lot of ways he has kept me going, even though he's gone. I just wanted to share this story and re-live one of my favorite memories; my best date.

Gran and Oz, 2008

Me and Gran. He looks better in my glasses than I do.

Hugs and poops,

Nichole