My Last First Date: Lost at Howard Johnson’s

June 4, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as with 2 and 0
Home > Writing > Archives > My Last First Date: Lost at Howard Johnson’s
By Jacqueline Diamond

I nearly lost my husband at Howard Johnson’s.

We met at a singles event and arranged to get together the following Saturday. As a fledgling reporter, I’d somehow snagged two free passes to Disneyland. They didn’t include the parking and, being young and cheap, we didn’t want to pay to park two cars. So we arranged to meet at a nearby Howard Johnson’s where we could leave one for free.

That was in the days before cell phones, but what’s the big deal with meeting somebody in front of a hotel?

Problem: He assumed we were meeting in front of the restaurant. I assumed in front of the lobby. Or maybe I’ve got that backwards. Anyway, you couldn’t see one place from the other.

I waited. And waited. Even went to a phone booth and called his house, but no one answered.

Was this guy just another unreliable jerk? I honestly didn’t think so. Fortunately, I hung around just a little longer and Kurt, having the same positive expectations about me, decided to take a final swing through the parking lot in his pickup.

Hooray! We were delighted to see each other. And we had a great date. Ate dinner overlooking Pirates of the Caribbean (that was included with the free passes. Otherwise, we’d have dined on hot dogs). Went on the Matterhorn and hollered all the way down.

We’ll celebrate our 29th anniversary in October.

Jackie Diamond Hyman (w/a Jacqueline Diamond) is the award-winning author of more than 75 novels. Her first e-book, Touch Me In the Dark, was released last month by Triskelion Publishing. You can find her at www.jacquelinediamond.com.

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A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
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    A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers. The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
  • Anonymous says:

    Jackie,
    Thanks for being our lead off hitter for OCCs new ezine contest. What I find so wonderful is that you both had such open hearts for each other after just one meeting, and after 29 years you were so right. Congratulations!
    Michelle

  • Anonymous says:

    Hi Jackie,
    As a Disneyland fan, I think this is a great memory of a first date! Congrats on 29 years!

    Gillian/Sue

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