Public displays of affection, or as youngsters might call them – PDAs – are usually not well liked. “Get a room” can often be heard to people showing their affections to another person in public through kissing or heavy hugging. Many of us may have committed PDAs in our younger years, but as we get older we tend to frown on them and join the “Get a room” crowd.
My wife, Jenny, and I joined this crowd many years ago, probably before we were married and maybe even before we started dating. I was in my mid-20s when we became a couple and she had just graduated from college. PDA was already in our past.
This past weekend we celebrated our ninth anniversary, and while we didn’t go on a PDA spree during our night on the town, we had fun watching a young couple on their own PDA marathon at a local establishment.
The night began with the arrival of the babysitter, a person who is like an angel for working parents that normally spend all of their free time with their kids and little time alone with each other.
We had reservations at @1800, a restaurant we usually can afford to go to just once a year, and started by having drinks. The crowd at this restaurant was our age and older, and none of the people there were young enough to be foolish enough to carry out PDA. Those that were there were treated to world-class meals, though, as my salmon and Jenny’s New York strip steak proved.
Following our meal we went to Michelle’s, another one of the area’s many great restaurants. We were there just for a drink, and once again the restaurant showed its worthiness by serving some great cocktails.
The crowd here was a little younger than the one at @1800, but nearly everyone there was past college age or older. No PDA was happening at Michelle’s.
Our final stop of the evening, Sugar Bar in downtown Stevens Point, is a good stop for what I call “girlie drinks.” Sure, they serve martinis, but they are the type that are flavored and cater to females more than guys. I’m sure the women in Mitt Romney’s binders would love this place, and many guys would too because the girls do.
The crowd was mixed – some older than us, some our age and some yet in college. It was these college students who needed to get a room.
They sat slightly behind us and to our left. As far as I could tell they weren’t drinking, but that’s only because they were too interested in each other’s mouths.
We laughed at the sight at first, and I seriously thought about telling them to “Get a room.” But then I realized it was kind of fun seeing something so young. Those days were behind us – not necessarily because we’re too old but more because we care too much about what others think. Seeing some PDA was a nice reminder of our youth and what it means to be carefree.
We’ll never get back to those days, until maybe we’re really old. I suggested to Jenny that maybe we come back here after we retire decades from now, and then go PDA crazy. What would the younger people around us say? Would it be cause for people to walk out and leave? Or would they cheer for a couple of old geezers making out as though they were in high school or college?
It’s a fun thought, and maybe someday we’ll do it. Just not yet. We’re just not young or old enough for that right now. Maybe somebody will save this column and send it to me 35 years from now, reminding me of what Jenny and I need to do.
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Originally published in The Portage County Gazette on Oct. 19, 2012.
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