I remember a not so long time ago when my wife and I were first dating going to the pool hall downtown. After a few games of pool and my wife allowing me to believe that I had let her win, we would go down to the local pub. We had a booth we sat at in the back. After a few beers we would often walk back through the local campus laughing, chatting and holding hands. The walk was free and was as if the lighting on the paths were dimmed so perfectly that it was actually meant for us.

After a few years had gone by we had been married and we were blessed with three beautiful children. Those night time strolls were soon replaced by the cries of hungry children needing food at night. As the children grew it seemed the more time shrank. Pretty soon there simply wasn't enough time in the day. Between daycare, school functions, work, and meals our calendar seemed booked with no availability of escape. Yes, we had become full time parents.

Tension started to build up in our relationship. It seemed the smallest of issues could stir up a storm. One night the kids had gone to their grandma's house for the weekend. Usually we would both have just passed out. We had received a phone call earlier that day from an old friend and we started to talk about our earlier years. True money was tight now, but we didn't have anything when we had first met. So we discussed going out for a night on the town. I must admit when we first started talking about it I was excited. As the time came closer to go that excitement turned into pure anxiety and fear. I hadn't been out at night except to work over if needed. This was different however. What should I wear? Was it safe for us to be out in today's night? What all could go wrong? This was my initial feelings.

The first thing we did was go to a pool hall that was about 12 blocks from the house. It was a little chilly outside and we had decided not to drive so we could have a few drinks. At first we both had to have felt a little awkward walking at our age to the pool hall. Then something magical happened. I saw she was cold so I gave her my jacket. I took her underneath my arm and we just started talking. We started remembering times when we were younger and we just laughed. Soon after the ice had been broken we had arrived to the pool scene. I wondered if I even knew how to hold a pool stick let alone shoot a good game. After a couple of games of us both looking like we had never played and getting a good chuckle we decided to go down to the local sports pub for a drink. After sipping down a few beers we proceeded to walk back home taking a short cut through the park in our community. We held hands and talked the whole way home not even realizing how cold it had become. Nothing else mattered. I had the woman's hand I loved and I felt lifted for the first time in years. The night blossomed from there when we arrived home and decided to warm each other under the covers. We decided then that these nights were going to continue to be apart of our lives forever.

I am not a relationship expert by any means. What I can tell you is that we forget a life that we had before and let a certain joy die that need not die. I am only glad that we found our night life. The passion, the fear, the communication, and the love that come with it. Where is you night life?