(Welcome to the new “French Sabbatical Blog.” I’ve made a lot of changes, including writing four new “pages,” each of which you can read by clicking on “About,” “French Sabbatical,” “A Story,” and “Meet Andy” above. While I’ll continue to post each day here, it’s not my intention to have every posting be about something my family has done that day. For instance, today I want to tell you about Melinda’s and my “first date.”)
“This is not a date!”
So said Melinda to me as we walked from the Seattle Center to my car. 
We were heading to Longacres, the racetrack in Seattle, having just seen a concert. Melinda knew I had connections at the track that would allow easy access to the horses. Since she’d taken up riding, she was interested in seeing some thoroughbreds in training. But she wanted to make it clear to me that going to look at horses did not indicate romantic interest on her part. “This is not a date,” she said. “Um, okay,” was my eloquent response.
Of course we were married less than four months later, what happens to be exactly 21 years and 1 day ago. Sometimes I ask Melinda if we’ve had a date yet.
Today’s Question: What constitutes a “date?”
Andy Smallman 
I confirm, Andy, you are very romantic. I am going to say that to Laurent…
I like the photo, your haircut ??
And good idea, that new blog !
Frédérique
Thank you, Frédérique! After you tell Laurent, let Melinda know, too, ok? And regarding that haircut, I bet that photo is over 10 years old. Still, I very much like it. 🙂
We don’t have that date thing in France, not like you guys. Talking about that with Chrissie I wish we had, but we don’t. It seems to make things more obvious and simple and maybe even more romantic (ouch, take that, French Pride!). Here, there is a kind of mating display like peacocks – or a public display of interest (ok, that part must be universal), but everybody and everything is confused until the guy gives the girl a french kiss (if he is lucky) and they officially “sortent ensemble” which literally means “going together”. Chrissie told me that dating had something to do with having a car too. In France you can’t drive before being 18, and you usualy don’t get to have a car before you have a real job.
At least that was how it was in my days. I need to ask my kids how they do now, for some reason they don’t tell me every detail of their love life.
And for the record, Chrissie and I first “went together” very early in a sunny morning on the “Pont Neuf” in Paris and then went for a breakfast on the Champs Elysés. Isn’t that romantic?
Holy smokes, yes! A French kiss on the Pont Neuf and then breakfast on the Champs Elysés! What’s more romantic than that?! As far as I’m concerned, that’s more official than any wedding ceremony I’ve ever heard of. And I’ve even performed some!
Now about that car thing. Chrissie, I think, is overstating it a bit or pulling your leg. That’s very “American Graffiti.” Ask her if she’s seen that movie. Still, the idea of a “car date” is a step up in seriousness from a date not involving a car, I’ll grant her that. Especially if it’s a big car…
Speaking of a car date in a big car, did Chrissie explain to you a “shotgun wedding?”