Drive-In with Woody Woodpecker

I referenced Runaway Bride in a gchat conversation with a friend today and realized that I first saw that movie with Craig... at the drive-in. This was on a double date some time before Craig went on his mission and after I had graduated from high school.

We doubled with Craig's friend Brian and a girl who went to Bingham High. I don't remember her name or what she looked like (could I? I was too busy flirting with Craig!) but I remember we had to drive a long way out to pick her up.

First we went to Kearns where we played team pool. I'm sure Brian and date smashed us! I was so so terrible! And so embarrassed and trying to act nonchalant about it. Craig was pretty great and he kept laughing at me... not because he was better, but because he probably thought it was cute how I was trying to act all tough when really I was terrified every time I expected to connect the cue with the ball! He did a great job of encouraging me and not making me feel bad when my ball went all skeewompous. And he always made sure I had enough chalk for the tip of my pool stick.

After pool we went and got kid's meals at the Taco Bell. Mine came with a Woody Woodpecker on a skateboard! I kept that Woody for years, only when my room flooded last month when I was home visiting did I let the Woody go. I guess Woody "drowned" too. We played silly games with the Woody in the back seat as we drove to the drive-in. At the drive-in we watched Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Craig and I used to pretend like we were the characters and kind of mime them out as the movie went along.

It was a warm summer evening with a nice breeze. I think we sat side by side on the hood of Brian's car. When Brian dropped me off Craig got out and we hung out and sat on my front walkway and talked before Craig gave me a hug and walked home. Man, I loved it when dates with Craig ended like that. Loved that he lived near enough that goodbye wasn't at the door but with me waving as he turned away from the edge of our cul-de-sac. Those were my favorite always.

--Reija Matheson