Romantic Comedy

Why laughter makes for lasting memories.

When the words ‘romantic’ and ‘comedy’ are put together, many people think of Hollywood movies starring Hugh Grant and Sanda Bullock. Or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Yet ordinary, everyday people often have tales to tell of dates that started out sensual and ended up side-splitting. A friend of mine, Jessie, recently told me of one such occasion and, even before she was through, I was laughing so hard that I could barely breathe.

Jessie had met Jake - who would later become her husband - through an online personals site, but the two were separated by considerable distance. It had been several months since they had seen one another and Jake, determined to make it the perfect evening, had made a reservation at one of Chicago’s finest hotels. 

Returning to the room after a wonderful dinner, Jessie suggested a soak in the hot tub, which happened to be about the size of the average domestic swimming pool. So Jake, being the chivalrous character that he is, offered to fill the tub while Jessie kicked off her shoes and stretched out in the front of the television. 

When the tub was just about full, Jake added the better part of a bottle of bubble bath, then called out to Jessie that everything was good to go. Jessie, who is hardly the tallest woman in the world, disrobed and made her way into the bathroom, beaming over the attention given to her by this kind and caring man. 

But this was where things started to go awry. Jake had added so much bubble bath liquid that Jessie, quite literally, slipped into the enormous tub and disappeared under the water.

When she finally emerged, she was in fits of laughter, sliding all over the slippery tub and taking in large gulps of the foamy water. Jake broke into hysterics as well, then Jessie promptly disappeared under again. 

Jake had no choice but to drain the tub, and the two spent the rest of the evening cackling at what a disaster the entire episode had been. 

Funnily enough, Jessie recalls that night as one of the best times of her life, and says she can’t remember ever laughing so much.

The point of this story is that, when two people just seem to fit together, there’s hardly a thing in the world that can split them apart. In fact, Jake and Jessie’s hot tub calamity actually brought them closer together.

So, next time your heading out on a date, try not to be nervous or overly serious. Lighten up. If the relationship is right, everything will happen naturally.