Another Valentine's Day post

After I finished writing that last post about Valentine's Day, I went into work for just a minute and what did I find but a box full of beautiful roses from my sweet husband. We agreed no gifts, so I was completely surprised! When I talked to him later, he said he just wanted to make sure I knew he was thinking about me even while he was in California. He's too sweet!

The roses are mailed when they are still buds so you get to enjoy them for a while while they bloom - it's been a full week and my flowers still look beautiful!

A Valentine's Day mash-up

Three years ago, Tim came out to Pittsburgh to visit me over Valentine's weekend. It was our first Valentine's Day since meeting each other, plus we were long-distance, so we decided to do something special. We got all dressed up and went out to eat in downtown Pittsburgh (Greek food, so good!) then went to the ballet to see "Romeo and Juliet." Mostly it was so wonderful just to be together and to show Tim my new home.


Two years ago, we went to California over Valentine's weekend. We needed to take Scott and Chelsea the rest of their furniture that they had to leave with us when they moved back there from Utah, plus Tim purchased all the wood he would need to make our beautiful bed frame (see pictures here). We drove through the night, got a lot done, and then Tim and his dad and brothers made an absolutely delicious meal for their wives to enjoy. And I got some beautiful flowers out of the deal, too!


One year ago, we celebrated Valentine's Day ahead of time (a play at the Hale and dinner out) and the actual day was very low-key. We made the day special without any of the pressure for it to be amazing, and it was just about perfect.

This year, we decided to try combining all three methods of celebration. Sort of. We are long-distance for the day (1) while Tim is in California (2) for a funeral, and because of that we celebrated last weekend with a play at the Hale and a nice dinner out (3). Ta-da! Tim will get home late tonight so we will get to see each other, but probably for about three seconds before I fall asleep. I don't mind our odd Valentine's Day, though. I'm really glad Tim got to go for the funeral - it was important to both of us that he be there.

Love, Wally

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Yes, it's a silly, made-up holiday that causes stress and disillusionment, but happy day all the same. I've always tried to make it a point of having a good day on Valentine's Day, regardless of my relationship status and you know, I've never had a particularly bad one yet.

This year, Tim and I used Valentine's Day as an opportunity of doing some special things together, rather than as a pressure-filled, overly romantic holiday. The Saturday before, we went to see The Foreigner at the Hale (Have I raved about this show yet? SO GOOD!) and went out to eat at a real restaurant, quite the luxury around here. The day itself was just a normal day with a few more chocolates than normal and the end of the North and South miniseries, a twenty hour-long soap opera-style drama set during the Civil War. Classic. Mostly, Valentine's Day was just a day. Tim gave me new shoes, I gave him kitchen utensils. I could say something cheesy about every day being Valentine's Day, but really, every day I love my husband and he loves me and I appreciate having days that let us make it something special.

I also think that Valentine's Day isn't just about your spouse/boyfriend/etc., it's about all the people in your life. And I got thinking back to high school, when my best friends and I were none of us dating anyone, though we all wished we were, and we invented a fictitious boyfriend named Wally. I don't remember why we picked Wally (there was a semi-logical reason, I just don't remember) but he was the perfect man (hence being fictitious). We wouldn't tell any of our guy friends who this mysterious Wally was, but we made sure they knew we were in love with him.

And then on Valentine's Day, there was a flower from Wally on my desk in my first class. Later in the day, I got chocolate and a card from him, signed in one of my best friend's handwriting. The four of us had given each other Valentine's Day gifts in Wally's name. It was fun and silly, but as I remember now, I am amazed at how truly sweet that day was. We each wanted to make sure the day didn't go by without our best friends feeling special and loved, because they were. Maybe not by a boyfriend, but by several best friends, and truly, that is what this day is about.

So Happy Valentine's Day. Know that you are loved, you are special, and a new pair of shoes and some chocolate make for a good day anytime.