The Barnes and Noble Date

Since Robyn and I have been together, we've made it a goal to do a "date night" once a week.  Back when we were just dating, I went out of my way to be super creative with date ideas.  I put together elaborate ideas that involved intricate plans, multiple locations, and some even lasted all day long.

Since we've been married, my creativity has definitely dropped.  Most weeks our date consists of going out to dinner.  It's certainly not the most creative, but we both enjoy the time together, and we both have a deep and abiding love for food.

However, there is one date idea that I think is at least semi creative.  We've done it several different times, and it is definitely one of my favorite activities.

I call this brilliant idea, the Barnes and Noble date.

Before I explain this date, there is something you should know about me.  I love to read.  As a teenager, I was a member of the Science Fiction Book Club.  Each month, I would get the little newsletter (that was essentially a book catalog) and I would pore over it, excitedly looking at what was new in the science fiction community.  As I got older, Amazon replaced the Science Fiction Book Club, and I have expanded my horizons to include other books besides science fiction.  (But don't worry, I still read plenty of science fiction.)

So here's the premise of the Barnes and Noble date.  Robyn often gets gift cards from her students, (or more accurately, their parents) for Christmas, or end of the year, or teacher appreciation day or whatever other reason students have to give presents to teachers.  (I personally think there should be more reasons for presents, but that's just me.)  One company that the cards often represent, is Barnes and Noble.

The date is simple.  We go to Barnes and Noble, we take the gift card, and we each get to choose exactly one book.

Robyn occasionally makes me go shopping with her for things like clothes.  On these occasions I usually weep and wail and gnash my teeth.  But shopping for books is totally different.  I love to stew over what book to purchase.  I use my Goodreads and Amazon apps on my phone to scan the ISBN number and then read reviews.

I buy books all the time.  But the Barnes and Noble date is different.  I try to come without any preconceived notion of what I will walk out of the store with.  I try to find something that I wasn't aware of before, that will bring me gladness.

It's like a treasure hunt, trying to discover that gem that you didn't know already existed.

Are you dying to know what gem I unearthed?  Well, what if the man who brought us John Carter and Tarzan wrote a book about a land filled with dinosaurs?  Wouldn't that be a fabulous gem?

I haven't actually read it yet, but it seemed like a gem.  So I made it happen.

What are some creative date ideas that you have tried?