It was 1975, and for my 17th birthday I received two tickets to see George Carlin at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos (here’s more about that story).
But who to invite? There was this girl in high school that I’d known for a few years. We had first met in junior high when we represented our schools on a committee to choose our school colors, mascot, etc. I had long admired her — she was gorgeous, popular, super friendly, and always had a smile. Even though we ran in the same circle of friends, she seemed way over my head on the social scale. But I thought … why not ask?
Guys know this feeling well. It takes courage to make yourself vulnerable to rejection, especially at the age of 17. I don’t remember being nervous when I asked this gorgeous, popular, super friendly always smiling beauty to join me on a date to see George Carlin perform … but then I honestly don’t remember anything about asking her. My lack of memory is the best indication of how fearful I was. I was probably so scared before the ask and so shocked she said “yes” after the ask that my brain was on overload.
But she did say “yes”. And asking her was easily the smartest decision I ever made in my life. It set the course of our histories. And I thank God, daily, that D’Aun said “yes”.
About 10-days later it was December 19, 1975, the night of our first date. I picked her up in my Mustang II with the Mach I paint job. We drove to Fremont — the only city between Pleasanton and the Circle Star Theater that I had much knowledge of — and had dinner at a Lyons Restaurant. Obviously not a gourmet dinner, but it was away from our neighborhoods and about the best one could hope for in the suburbs of 1975. Dinner went well — I didn’t spill anything and she didn’t ignore me — and we headed out to San Carlos where the Circle Star Theater was located.
The show that George Carlin put on … oh my, what can you say? This was just after he had hosted the first ever Saturday Night Live. His gig was “The Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” and I about died laughing. I knew I really liked this girl when I realized she was laughing as hard as I was. The couple in front of us, which I will generously describe as prudish, were shocked by Carlin’s routine. And their reaction just made us laugh that much harder!
I took the long way back to Pleasanton after the show because I enjoyed my time with D’Aun so much. I didn’t want the evening to end. Walking her to her front door, we said goodnight. Another awkward moment because you never really know if she’s willing to kiss you or not. She turned to me, I put my arms around her waist, and we kissed. Again, it’s awkward, because how do you end a first kiss? Not wanting to presume too much, I began to pull away and end the kiss … but D’Aun held tight and made it longer. Wow. Wow. Something truly magical happened at that moment.
Exactly five years later to the day, I proposed to her. She said yes again.
It’s our 35th first date anniversary today, and the 30th anniversary of our engagement. But I could just as easily say it is the 35th anniversary of the smartest decision I ever made. The joy of her saying “yes” and the magic of that first kiss are still with us. They always will be.
D'Aun and I shortly after our engagement, 1981