Accentuate the Positive

/ Ann Coleman

When my husband and I were first dating, we often went to the movies.  Our tastes were very different, but we both enjoyed a good comedy and there was almost always one worth seeing.  One evening he told me he’d really like to see the new movie, “Grease.”  I was a little surprised but went along with his choice.  After a quick stop at the snack bar, we settled into our seats and the movie began.

Less than five minutes into it, my husband turned to me with a look of horror on his face.  “I think this is a muscial!” he hissed.  I agreed that it was.  Scowling, he took another bite of popcorn and turned his attention back to the screen.   He watched in suspicious silence for a while longer before he began to look even more alarmed.  “And it’s a love story!”  Given half a chance, I’m sure he would have left the theater there and then.  But as far as I was concerned, we’d paid for the movie and hadn’t even made a dent in our soda and popcorn supplies, so we were going to ride it out.

When the movie was over, I asked him how how he liked it.  “It wasn’t too bad,” he admitted.  “Considering.”  I told him that’s exactly what I thought, too.  It certainly wasn’t one of my favorite movies, but it was good enough that I’m glad we didn’t walk out.

Fast forward more than forty years to a recent Saturday night when my husband and I decided to go out for dinner.  There was a slight chance of rain in the forecast so we considered ourselves lucky that the restaurant had a sidewalk table under a big awning, just in case.  We placed our orders and settled back to enjoy the live music coming from a restaurant across the street.  All was going well until it started to rain….very, very, hard.

ORyzU85tSfq3qtjHCpQWe quickly moved our table as far back from the street as it would go, thinking that would protect us.  And it did, for a while.  But soon the street in front of the restaurant was covered in water that was also lapping up against the curb.  Our waitress asked if we’d like to move inside, but we told her we were fine.  (We’re not eating inside restaurants right now.)   By the time she came back with our food, the water was beginning to cover the sidewalk as well.  Every once in a while a car would venture down the flooded street, creating waves that did reach our table, so we learned to lift our feet whenever we saw one coming.

I know this sounds like a miserable experience, but it really wasn’t.  A few other diners had also chosen to stay outside, the servers were all carrying umbrellas to stay dry, and the temperatures were quite comfortable.  The atmosphere was almost festive.  As I told my husband, “it’s like beach-side dining, without the sand.”

Sometimes in this life, things just don’t turn out the way we had expected.  What sounded like a good movie turns out to be a musical love story.  What we thought would be a good night for dining outside turns into a night of heavy rains.  But if we can just let go of our original plans and simply go with the flow, sometimes things turn out to be just fine.  As a wise person once said, “it’s all about attitude.”

95 thoughts on “Accentuate the Positive”

  4. I love sitting out (under a cover) in warm rain! Sometimes you just have to go with the flow… of the water lapping at your feet. That sounds like my idea of a perfect evening.

    Funny that your husband wasn’t aware that Grease was both a musical and a love story! I’ve felt the same way when we’ve discovered that the movie we’ve rented is a documentary. But, we often find that they are well done and very interesting. Of course, they don’t usually include eye candy like a young John Travolta 🙂 .

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  6. Ha Ha. I was not a fan of musicals at one time, but have since found many that are OK. As to eating outside in a rainstorm, a great story to tell the kids and grandkids. Thanks for sharing Ann. Allan

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  8. I could imagine the two of you in the midst of your dinner on the pavement-turned-beach, lifting your legs in synch with the next wave. Just as you said, it’s more the reactions than the incidents that define and shape us. Come to think of it, the scene can be turned into a sparkling musical in a movie!

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    • Ha! That’s a great idea…it would make a great musical! And you know, it really is just how we react to things that matter. We could have been upset that the rain ruined our dinner, or we could just deal with the rain and enjoy our dinner anyway. We went with the second choice!

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  9. A lot of people would not have been thrilled about eating outdoors during heavy rains. You and your husband shrugged it off and enjoyed yourselves, which shows plenty of adaptability. My wife and I have been eating outdoors at restaurants too. Like you, we have chosen not to eat indoors. Not yet anyway.

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  10. Love it! Reminds me of the time Doug and I were eating at an Indian restaurant outside and got both a lightning show from a storm and a bit of rain. Now, that’s entertainment! And yes, it’s all about attitude. Good memories never die Ann. 😁🌟

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    • You’re so right, Miriam! I think I’ll remember that particular night out for a long time (I remembered our date at the movie, right?) How nice that you got a lightening show with your dinner! When I was young, I would head over to a good friend’s house whenever a storm was coming, and we would sit on her covered front porch and watch the action. We both loved it!

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  15. Great story, Ann! You’ll be talking about this waterside dinner for a long time. I agree, the mindset is everything. Sometimes it’s hard to adapt, especially when we’ve been adapting to so many new things this year. But always feels good later knowing we made things work.

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  20. attitude can turn odd experiences into gratitude … well done both of you!

    Grease brings back hilarious memories for me … my dad loved Olivia and mum Travolta so they devised a plan to take their four adult kids for dinner and a movie in the city. An absolute one off experience I assure you. They used us as an excuse to see a movie they were both keen to see and us kids thought it so funny …

    These make for unique experiences, so glad you enjoyed your dinner!

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  21. Sounds like a good evening, no matter the hitches. I know some people who’d have opted to go home, or grumbled throughout the meal. I’d like to say I’d have considered it an adventure, and laughed every time I had to raise my legs for the car to pass 😉
    You remember the movie 40 years ago, I’m sure you’ll remember this night for many more to come.

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    • Exactly! I still remember that night at the movies, and I bet when I’m old and in some sort of care home, I’ll remember our night out during the flash floods caused by the rain storm too. And honestly, we had a very good time!

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    • It was fun! Honestly, we thought we could run through the rain and drive home through the flooded streets, or we could just stay put and enjoy our meal. So we went with the second choice. I did feel a little guilty when I saw our server bringing our food out with another server walking next to her, holding the umbrella. But that’s why we left an enormous tip!

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  23. I went to Grease when it came out ON MY OWN because nobody else I knew wanted to see it. My uni relationship was over, I wouldn’t meet John for another year, and the release didn’t coincide with the two or three “fillers” in between. I quite liked it, but it wasn’t until I watched it on TV years later that I appreciated the craft that had gone in to some of the scenes. Not sure John has ever watched it …

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    • Good for you for going to see it on your own! Like dining out, going to the movies is something that many people think can only be done with two people. But really, if you want to see a movie or eat in a restaurant, why shouldn’t you just do it? I’m glad you did and enjoyed it so much!

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  24. Ann, I laughed about going to see Grease by mistake lol I also hate musicals, so I can imagine the horror when the singing began.

    That looks like a LOT of water, but I’m glad you two were able to see the good in the experience. Lately, I’ve had to shift my thinking quicker than the changes are thrown at me.

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    • Yeah, my husband was truly horrified! And I’m not a big fan of musicals either, because they seem so “forced.” The last musical I saw on screen and truly enjoyed was “The Sound of Music,” and I think I was about eight years old at the time. Now, I only watch musicals in the theater…. And I know what you mean about shifting your thinking. I feel like I’m swimming as fast as I can to keep up with all the changes, but only managing to treat water!

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  25. Personally, I would’ve liked the rainy night out. It certainly will be memorable. And always remember, “Grease is the word that you heard. It’s gotta grove. It’s gotta feelin'”. God’s non-greasy grip – Alan

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    • Ha! You know, if I had to relive one of those two nights, I’d pick dining in the rain. I know Grease was a huge success, but to me, it was just okay. I still wonder exactly what kind of movie my husband thought he was going to see……

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    • That’s another way to be creative! Before restaurants here were able to open their patios, I knew a few couples who had “date night” doing just that. They drove to their favorite restaurant, ordered the food curbside and then just ate in in their car while listening to good music. Whatever keeps us sane these days is a good thing!

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  30. Great memories, Ann! I too had to laugh at your husband’s realization that he was about to sit through a love story musical! The movie and wet dining adventure are great example of you two making the best of things.

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  31. “Going with the flow”?? That made me laugh, seeing your photo of the flowing water and realizing how challenging that must have been, eating and continually lifting your feet in an effort to stay dry! You’re so right, though: attitude is key.

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  32. You know how very much I love your posts, but this one was just wonderful!!!! It is so very true. It is our attitude that dictates so much how an event will turn out. We can splash in a rain puddle on a rainy afternoon walk, and discover a rainbow; or, we can simply stay indoors and lament how poor the weather is with days of endless rain. I think there is a little miracle inside each and every day…we just have to use our imaginations and make the most of any given situation.

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    • Thanks for that sweet comment, Linda! And I love “there is a little miracle inside each and every day” because that’s not only true, but it also helps us to be grateful for each day and remember that they are indeed a gift. The older I get (and goodness knows I’m old!), the more I realize just how very important attitude is.

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  33. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the worst experiences often make for the best stories. Look at you — you’re retelling two of yours, and everyone is nodding in agreement, saying, “Sure enough. That’s just the way it is!”

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    • That’s the truth! When we have an ordinary and easy day, we don’t remember it at all. But the difficult moments, especially when we find something good in them, stick with us for a long time!

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  34. Oh, I really enjoyed reading this! I love the way you told it for your readers and absolutely admire your perspective and attitude towards it. So much to learn from you!
    This will be a great day to look back on, years from now. Filled with memories!

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  37. Ann, I’m smiling at your husband’s initial shock of Grease being a musical AND a love story! 😀😀 His and your positive attitude shine through in your post and not only did you have an adventurous dining experience but also an opportunity to create a fun and thought-provoking post! Xx

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  38. It seems like nowadays every week, sometimes every day, there’s a new, crazy experience to be had. We are all certainly learning to go with the flow, adapt, and make the best of difficult situations.

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  40. This is such a great “true-life” story that I totally related to. First, I laughed out loud at your husband’s reaction while watching “Grease.” My guy would have reacted the same. Musicals and love stories – he’d shiver at the idea of one or the other, and go into shock at the combination. haha. But. He takes me to the ballet THE NUTCRAKER every December and gets teary-eyed – every year. (We’ve watched at least 35 performances over the years).Musical – oh yes. Love story – oh yes in several ways.
    And we would have been with you and your guy outside sitting at a table, watching the rain, lifting our feet as the cars went by. Attitude makes our lives either messy and sloppy, or joyful and fun. May we always make the second choice. xo

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    • That’s great that he enjoys the Nutcracker! I love that ballet too, but have never taken my husband to it, now I’m thinking maybe I should? And I agree, it’s all about attitude. Our night of dining in the rain could have been a “wash out” or a night of fun, and we did choose the second! Thank you so much for your comment!

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  41. I agree–things are always better if you make the best of what you have. Gratitude and openness are not only good for others, they’re good for you as well. People who can let things go have fewer health problems overall. It’s always good to find the silver lining. : )

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  43. What a night(mare)! 😂 But I’m glad the two of you enjoyed your evening after all and despite the monsoon. 😀 As to Grease – I’m curious: what did your husband and think it was about??

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