The dinner date

Carter had his first "dinner date" last night. Mom totally approved - and in fact, I was there when he asked her out.

It was about a year ago that Carter first met my friend Tamara, a new employee at work. The three of us played tennis one day after work and Carter took an immediate shine to this girl from Montana.

The next time he was in the office, he stopped to talk to her. I could tell he was a bit anxious. He has this nervous habit of shifting from one foot to the other, rocking a bit with hands in pocket, when he's trying to muster up courage. And he did.

He asked if she'd like to go out to eat sometime. She said yes, but since she was new to Iola, she asked where he'd like to go. Carter's reply was something like: "I hear Subway is the best place in town." (That's pretty close to the truth!)

So they set a date -- or agreed to one. They finally got around to going last night ... it was one last "date" before Tamara gets married Labor Day Weekend!

Afterwards, Carter said he had a good time. They each got a personal-sized pizza and couldn't tell whose was whose so they shared. That's what people do on dates sometimes.

Tamara reported this morning that he was a well-behaved child (sitting in the back seat since he's not yet 12) and perfect gentleman. She said it was liking talking with an adult. When she told him she was moving away after the wedding, he said it seemed like she just got here, then later asked how she's enjoyed her time in Wisconsin.

Sometimes there's a mind of an adult in that 9-year-old body! He's inquisitive, yet respectful, and I'd say he's got the mindset of a "modern" man. After all, he let her pay!