Date Night Didn’t Save My Marriage

Last week, I had dinner with some of the sober babes that I met on a sober hiking retreat in Sedona, a month ago. Most of us live in Chicagoland. From the larger group, four of us were available to get together. We picked the most central spot for dinner. Lucky for me, that landed close to home.

I was the last to arrive and when I approached the table I was welcomed immediately. Everyone got up out of their chairs. We hugged and squealed with delight at our reunion. It was so wonderful to see each other again. We were familiar with each other, having spent days and nights on a soul filled retreat together. We were also brand new, having taken off our hiking boots, and donned our pretty sundresses for the occasion. It was a thrill to be meeting up again, in real life, so close to home, solidifying the beginning of meaningful new friendships.

Our dinner lasted as long as it possibly could.

We ordered drinks. A round of the signature mocktail (obviously). It is so refreshing to go out for drinks with non drinkers. Exactly how much alcohol everyone is going to consume is known from the start and the answer will always be none. It’s a safe and predictable evening. Nothing is said because alcohol is talking. Everyone is coherent when the bill comes. No one is making a dangerous choice by getting behind the wheel.