Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Centennial Park in 2001


George and I had our first date on March 29, 2001 --when we went out to dinner. We absolutely 'clicked' on that first date--and both of us knew we wanted to see each other again.. SO---on Saturday, April 7, 2001, George invited me to a morning at the Centennial Park in Nashville, and then to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

We walked around the entire park and enjoyed seeing the early spring flowers in bloom. We also visited the Parthenon and the Art Museum that it houses. We had a wonderful time that morning, and I could feel that 'love' was already in the air between us... WELL---that was until we went to lunch!!!

Here are some pictures from the park that day. The pictures are OLD--but really came out pretty good overall. Anyhow--I just wanted you to see us on our SECOND date!!!!! Above is a picture of the entrance to the park. Below are more.




This was the first picture that George took of me!!! (Don't you just love those hot pink shoes????? Yipes!)




And---this is the first picture that I took of him!




George took this picture of the pretty yellow Tulip. We realized on this day just how much both of us love beautiful flowers.




I enjoyed sitting among all of the beautiful flowers at the park.




At that time, I never dreamed I would have a yard full of these beauties myself now!!!!




Don't you just love the color of this beautiful Tulip???? I want one of these in MY yard!!!!!! SO pretty!




Here's one final picture taken that Saturday at Centennial Park.

Now---I just have to tell you what happened that day at lunch. There's a really neat little local restaurant near Centennial Park called Rotier's. Being the bigshot, independent, women's libber-type woman I was, I offered (demanded) to pay for our lunch that day... (I wanted to do MY part, you know!!!)

SO--George finally agreed... (What else could he have done, since I had made a BIG deal!!)... We ordered and ate a wonderful lunch ---and then I realized that they didn't take credit cards. Uh Oh... This gal had very little CASH with her.... I was SO embarrassed!!! George was so nice (and he didn't even laugh at me ---at least to my face)--- and helped me pay for our lunch that day... I'm surprised that he ever called me back after that date. Who was this idiot that he was dating?????????

Luckily, he just laughed it off---but I had alot of EGG on my face that day!!!! Thank Goodness, he did ask me out again---and again ---and again---and here we are 9 yrs. later. (And I still do dumb things like that at times!!!! Oh Well! I'm glad he loves me.)

Have a wonderful Saturday!
Hugs,

44 comments:

diane b said...

A lovely romance story. The flowers are gorgeous and the oldies aren't bad either.

You like wildlife, just have a look what visited Cindy in her yard. She used to live in Queensland but now lives in Western Australia.
http://www.artistsblog.com.au/2010/04/09/do-i-prefer-pesky-pythons-or-slithery-snakes/

Kirigalpoththa said...

Lovely memories!

Anonymous said...

That is one of those moments you couldn't dream about but reality is often odd. My mom always carried some money in her bra. If that would be inconvenient to take her bra off in public, her backup was her shoe where she tried to keep a newer 20 in her sock.

Our baby, now 37, rode to Florida with us once when we took my mom along. Our baby was totally stunned to see mom's bra-pocketbook.

Judy said...

That is too cute Betsy. I got a chuckle thinking about all the goofy things I've done with my husband. They love us for who we are :)

T said...

What a lovely story!

I love that park - it's just beautiful.

D said...

You love birds! ;) Wonderful story, photos, and oh yes, that tulip is beautiful... almost looks like a painting. Here's looking at the next 9 years!!

I Am Woody said...

Love that story! You guys just warm my heart:)

Beth said...

What a great first date story, Betsy! The tulips are lovely...and I like your pink shoes. :-)

Karin said...

What a delightful story of beautiful romance, blossoming love and blooming tulips! You two just warm my heart! It's so wonderful when two people share the same interests! Never a dull moment!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Sounds like a great memory...the good news is that George paid for lunch and didn't Tell you to pay for it...that happened to me once...only once...:-)

Big Dude said...

That is a nice park. I was visiting Wende when she lived in Nashville, and I took her to a doctor visit next to the park. So I spent my hour wandering around and it is pretty, even though it was fall and things were winding down. As a train buff I spent much of my time looking over the steam engine.

Cicero Sings said...

A fun post to read! I had a good chuckle over your embarrassing moment. I know he saw your heart and couldn't help but call back and back and ....

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading about your second date with George and the photographs of the two of you. The flowers were gorgeous! I met Bob, his brother and sister-in-law, and his daughter on our first date.

PCovi said...

Oh thats a good one! It would have happened to me...I think it did on one of B's birthday dinners actually...
I know Centennial Park well :)
I used to call it Nashville Beach because so many people suntanned there when I was in my 20's.

Rose said...

What wonderful memories you two have made...I always enjoy it when you share them with us.

Mary said...

I guess love blooming in a flower garden is as close to "love made in heaven" as you can get here on earth! Beautiful!

imac said...

Saint George to the rescue.....
Beautiful flowers.

Ginny Hartzler said...

What a great post!! I was hoping you would tell about lunch, or I would have e-mailed you to find out! Kind of a Lucille Ballish thing to do! But George HAS to know that you need just a tiny bit of taking care of!!! I adore the tulip pictures, especially the angles you took them from. You are matching them!! And when you stand among them, you are the prettiest, happeist tulip of the bunch!!

Reanaclaire said...

wow..this is a beautiful spring time, Betsy.. hope you enjoy all the days of your life..

Regina said...

How gorgeous!

A lovely weekend to both of you.

xo
Regina

Unknown said...

What a lovely romantic love story, Betsy ... chuckle, I'll bet you carry more cash now.

The gardens are gorgeous!
Have a lovely weekend.
TTFN ~Hugs, Marydon

Unknown said...

Oh, Betsy ... I'll be a GREAT Mini for sure ... but I hope not for a very loonnngggg time ... You are so cute! TY for visiting, I so enjoy you.

Have a lovely weekend.
TTFN ~Hugs, Marydon

Glenda said...

Love the gorgeous tulips - and your "love story"! And what adventures you two do enjoy!!

Connie said...

Wonderful memories for you and George, Betsy! The flowers are all so pretty.

The Retired One said...

Love that cute story, Betsy! Too funny that he had to end up paying lunch or you two would have had to wash dishes to pay for your lunches. ha

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Betsy, such a funny story, I'm sure they would have given you a job in the kitchen ;)
George and you were made to be, two little lovebirds, tweeting your way through life, up there in the Glade !
What gorgeous flowers in the park....

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

The flowers are beautiful and look at the results.A beautiful marriage of two wonderful people.
Blessings,Ruth

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: Neat story and photos.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, those flowers sure are preeeety & you guys look great

God bless

Diane said...

Sweet story and lovely memories, Betsy. You two were made for each other, weren't you?! Diane

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Oh, how funny!! The flowers are beautiful and now you have a yard full of them. ♥

Sweet Simple things in life give great pleasure.

Hugs,
Stephanie ♥

Busy Bee Suz said...

The tulips are amazingly beautiful.
Your lunch story: priceless.

Get it, priceless.
You are so funny and cute!!!

Adrienne Zwart said...

Oh, Betsy! I so enjoyed reading about the beginning of your love story! The tulips are gorgeous. I've given up trying to grow them--too many deer, so I enjoy going to botanical gardens to view them.

amelia said...

That is a priceless story!! Thank goodness he called you again!!

Small City Scenes said...

Wonderful, romantic story with a fabulous finish. The flowers are lovely and the lovelies are too.
thanks for sharing. MB

carolina nana said...

Lovely memories to go with lovely flowers,what a blessing you two must be to each other. Have a blessed Sunday my friend.
Marilyn

Tammie Lee said...

It is so sweet and fun to see photos of your first date or second. Looks like you had a wonderful time and were comfortable with one another from the beginning.

Dar said...

So Sweet, all of it from the first date to the present. You two act like you have been married for 30 yrs already. Congrats of falling so hard for each other...life is good.
Bless Ya Both

Bill S. said...

Stunners and I am not talking about the flowers. Great pictures.

Carletta said...

When your blog opened those tulips just popped right out at me. :)
With such beautiful surroundings how could you and George go wrong!
I think all of us in blogland are glad you and George kept going out!
Hugs Betsy,
Have a wonderful Sunday!

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Betsy...I'm back ♥

That lady that makes those wreaths has a farm and GROWS all that herself then dries it then makes the wreaths..they are beautiful. My farming days are over..haha I'll stick with my sewing and other stuff. :0)

Thank you for your encouragement..it's much appreciated. ♥ I'm working on stuff to get going soon with the selling.

I want this weather to stay this way forever! What a beautiful day it's been over here.

Hugs,
Stephanie ♥

Kelly said...

Ahhh! Really nice! I love those hot pink shoes!! (You're definitely "pretty in pink!")

Cheryl said...

Oh Betsy how I love reading your "story". Yours reminds me somewhat of mine and Mark's and hey we starting dating shortly after you and George, May 18, 2001.I do believe "that love is in the air" as we both felt it at the same time! Anyways, I love your photos and memories. May you and your dear George have many, many more memories indeed! And keep on wearing your pink shoes!! You go girl!

SquirrelQueen said...

The park is gorgeous, what a romantic place for a date. I love seeing all those tulips. Love the lunch date story. Even though it didn't go as planned everything still worked out perfectly.

You two make a great couple.