romance

this past weekend, saturday to be exact, i had one of the most romantic evenings i've had in a very long time.

we went to the harbor in baltimore, put our names on the list for a table at one of our favorite restaurants (shout out to the Cheesecake Factory for always pleasing me right!), and while we waited the hour or so for our table to be ready, we enjoyed the nightlife outside.

we bought tix to the paddle boats, and i was siced when they upgraded us to the dragon boats even though they were more expensive and we only paid for the regular boat. it was so nice paddling along the water, a few drops of rain falling here and there, enjoying the breeze and slight humidity, laughing and talking about nothing and everything, struggling to keep paddling as our thighs burned from the impromptu workout, and cruising in our little dragon-shaped boat when we got tired.

it was fabulous.

after paddle boating for a half-hour, our table still wasn't ready, so we jammed to the live band outside, singing along to oldies, laughing at the scenes occurring before us, moments full of our inside jokes that no one else knew but us, laughing at things that no one else would likely find funny, but us. but we laugh at everything, cuz that's just how we roll.

it was phenomenal.

dinner was great and chill (shout out again the Factory, lol), still full of laughter and love. real love. long-lasting love. just us, just being us.

and the funny thing is, this wasn't even a "date" by normal date standards.

this was a "date" with my friend that i've known since kindergarten, my friend that has always been my friend and nothing more, my friend whose family i know and he knows mine. my friend i've literally grown up with, who has known me at my best and worst. the only guy who has ever seen me just be totally me. my brother in Christ, my brother in life.

and though he and i have never shared a romance, it was one of the most romantic nights of my life.

as we paddled along the water, i smiled to myself wondering why guys i date never"romance" me this way, and thanking God for keeping such a pure, beautiful friendship alive after all these (22) years.