Going On a Date Tonight… With Dad

I’ve lived in Chicago for over ten years and never been to The Goodman Theatre.   I’ve seen a dozen or so Broadway performances when they make their way here, but have not visited the most well–respected performance company in the city.
This is particularly strange for me as I’ve been to over fifty crappy Cubs games despite the fact that I don’t follow baseball and couldn’t name one player on the team.

So, this year I decided to do something that made sense for me.   Do I even like plays?   I have no idea.   I haven’t seen a traditional play since high school and that was the one I was in about the Scopes monkey trial (I had one line).

My friend John works at The Goodman and told me I should buy a subscription to their upcoming season.   I did, and purchased two seats for the next five performances over the year.   If you’ve ever done this you know how insanely expensive it is.   I just didn’t want to go to five plays by myself.   Seemed way too sad to me.

I figured this would be a great idea if and when I start dating again.   But since the only woman in my life who was a potential dating candidate rejected me for fear I may pass on unfavorable genetic qualities to her future child, I don’t have anyone to ask.

My mother is an obvious choice, but she’s visiting my sister in New York currently.   They just saw The Book of Mormon and said it was amazing.

Anyway, in an extreme act of generosity, my parents recently handed down one of their cars since my ex-wife took ours when she moved to California.   You’d think I would have crossed off “Send a thank you note” off my to–do list by now as it’s been a few weeks, but I haven’t yet.

I don’t want to come off like a selfish dick because the fact is that I call them nearly every day, and am always overthanking them for the car.

Tonight’s the first in the season,  Red.

So, since I didn’t really have anyone here in the city to ask, I called my father who lives three hours away.   I’m sure he’s been a little lonely since my mom is out east this week, but I wasn’t sure if he could take time off in the middle of the week to see a show.

He was thrilled.   We’ve never done a father–son play date (who has?), but it just seemed like the perfect fit – two guys who don’t go to plays going to a play together.

I’m just excited I didn’t have to hock the extra tickets on Craigslist and have to sit next to the bozo that can’t find a date either.