Dating. That’s what we used to do. I’m not sure young people date anymore. I think they just “cluster”. They go out in packs and somehow two end up together. Sometimes they get married, but often they don’t
Let’s turn the clock back to the 1950s and 60’s, when a date was a serious matter.
To go out on a real date was something of a formality. The young man asked in advance and the time and place of the date was agreed upon. When the young man pulled up in front of his intended date’s house, he didn’t honk the horn to let her know he had arrived. Rather, he went to the door – on his best behavior – and met the parents. Without Mom and Dad’s approval, that date would be over. But after stuttering through an awkward conversation and escaping with somewhat of a blessing, the date was on. The young man walked his date to the car and opened the door for her. When the girl got in, she scooted over to the middle, to sit beside her date. That was mandatory. Then, they were off to their dinner date.
After opening every door possible, the couple sat at the table and the guy ordered for the girl. Always. And he picked up the check. Always. If the girl got up to use the powder room, her date stood also when she left and again when she returned.
The agreed upon time for returning home was set in stone. It was usually earlier than the couple wanted, but if the parents said 10:00, it was 10:00, not 10:15. The old classic song, “Wake Up Little Susie” by the Everly Brothers foretold the hell-to-pay if the couple arrived home late.
The ultimate goal of dating was to go steady. This was serious business when a guy gave his varsity jacket to his girl or let her wear his high school ring. This was like a pre-engagement.
If things went well, the young couple married. Age 20 was ideal for a young lady and 24 was an acceptable age for the young man to settle down and start a family. If a girl made it to 25 – still unmarried – she was in the Pre-Old Maid category.
Yes, dating has changed significantly. “Let’s live together for a few years and see if it pans out,” is a common procedure, “And if her dad doesn’t approve, too bad.”
In the good old days, dating was a serious matter.
