Is this a date?

It's 7:45 a.m. on a brisk November morning in Denver.  Suzie and I are sitting at a small table for two at Panera on Colfax Ave enjoying a quick breakfast and chatting.  Our conversation ranges from the presidential election to family vacation to what our next vehicle might be when we replace my car.  Next to Suzie's coffee cup sits a round, black, restaurant style pager with gently blinking red lights.  Across the street is Children's Hospital and Kinley is about 15 minutes into a 60-90 minute MRI scan of her spine.  The pager is there so the radiology nurses can let us know when it's time to return to the recovery room and be there when Kinley begins to awaken from the anesthesia.  This appointment is one of several exams that are scheduled for November and all of them are leading up to the main event which will be spinal fusion surgery on January 17th.  Kinley has developed scoliosis over the last couple of years and the curve has progressed to the point where surgery is a necessity.  The next leg of our journey as parents of a special needs child is beginning.  Though the circumstances weren't exactly ideal that morning it was actually nice to spend the time together at Panera.  We haven't been able to get out much as a couple lately which made me wonder was this a date?  Hmmm.  Later that day we joked with Kinley that we had gone on a date.  Not sure she was amused.  What I do know is that after 18 years of marriage I still love hanging out with Suzie..............even when we're "on call".