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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day



So we all know what today is...it's the day Hallmark and florists and Whitman's get rich.  Blah, blah, blah.

It also happens to be one of my favorite holidays of the year!!!

I LOVE Valentines Day!  When I was a kid it was because it meant chocolate but after I met the hubs, it was the one day of the year that belonged completely to us US as in a couple.  A hopelessly and romantically and passionately in love couple.

Oh...and it also meant I'd get to drink.  Yeah...there's that too.

For once however, the alcohol wasn't the end all and be all of the day because, at my core, I am a hopeless romantic.  If the movie doesn't end "happily ever after" then I don't want to go and see it (even Les Mis ends on a positive note).  Even though Disney has screwed more women and their perception of love than John Mayer, I adore Disney movies because they all end "happily ever after" with an epic score that sticks in my head forever.  I'm just built that way.

So Valentine's Day used to be about a special dinner complete with a lot of wine, a lovely gift, flowers, Godiva and of course...um...well you get the idea.  We also took advantage of many weekend packages at fancy hotels over the years to celebrate.  Champagne, strawberries, king sized beds and bubble baths plus a wonderful gourmet meal...with lots and lots of wine.

Then the kids came along and we settled for a night out with lots of good food and wine and, if the kids were in bed when we got home...um...yeah.

Then my drinking started picking up and it truly became just another excuse to drink...which took all of the romance out of the equation.  I remember wondering why it wasn't like it used to be?  Where was the spark?  Why didn't the hubs seem engaged?  Duh...because he was sitting across the table from a drunk that's why.  (He would never admit that because he is my angel but that's how I see it now.  How dissappointed he must have been.  Oy!)

Now I'm sober.  Hmmmm.  About five years ago, we started a tradition where we'd have a big, fancy Valentine's Day dinner at home with the kids (and whatever girlfriends happened along at the time).  Steak, sparking grape juice, chocolate for dessert.  It's fun and we'll do it again this year. 

But as for the hopelessly romantic, passionately in love part of Valentine's Day...I'm not so sure.  Of course I'm still passionately in love with my mate but, of late, we've not been very romantic.  Let's face it, he's a man so he's happy if I'm happy and over the years I've been able to coax quite a bit of romance out of the guy but unless I'm VERY specific about what I want, it ain't gonna happen.  And that's okay! 

The problem is I don't know what I want.  I'm not sure how I feel about sober Valentine's Days or romance now.  It's just...different.  Without the booze (and the pink cloud of early sobriety) I'm a little lost.  I want the spark and the anticipation and the excitement of a romantic Valentines Day...but I'm not sure what to tell the hubs to do to make it happen.

Sigh.

Oh well.  I just booked our anniversary trip in April.  This year is 30.  We've figured it out this long, we'll figure this out too.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.  Kiss someone today just for the hell of it!

Namaste

And Elmo...if you're reading this.  I'll love you forever...or at least until tomorrow.

10 comments:

  1. Happy Valentine's Day Sherry and Elmo, you'll figure it out . . . And I'll look for someone to kiss just for the hell of it x x

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    1. Thanks! And yes...by all means lay one on someone! It will be worth the look on their face!

      Sherry

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  2. Hey ... snap .... steak with salad and fizzy grape juice!

    Second blog today I've read that is celebrating not bemoaning Valentine's Day - :-)

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    1. It's yummy.

      I'm a bit of a pollyanna so I seldom bemoan anything.

      Hope your day was wonderful.

      Sherry

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  3. I pulled up to my scrapbooking desk when I got home today and created a work of art. Ok, maybe not, but I did "make" the card and I hope that says a lot. Ha, Jays' coming home with Papa Murphys and then I'll soon be off to bed (get up at 3am) Abigail is working - so its relatively just another day. Sadly my ex was an awful gift giver, wait, he never gave gifts - so I believe I have learned over the years to almost resent the special day

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    1. I made special cards for my boys which, surprise surprise, they really loved.

      The hubs and I also ended up alone as everyone else had plans out of the house. It turned out to be a great evening!

      Sherry

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  4. A boyfriend in 10th grade gave me an oversized hershey's kiss on Vday and sheepishly said "My mom says valentines is every girl's favorite holiday." I thought "really?" but I also wanted to love it. Many years later, I think it's okay to not like Valentines Day. It's kind of like New year's eve. Too many hopes and expectations for the perfect night. I think a buzz helped with this illusion, but even then I didn't really feel it. I feel happier today, actually. Hope you do too :)

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    1. I like the correlation to New Year's Eve. I think your are spot on with that one.

      Thanks!

      Sherry

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  5. I didn't get chocolates or a card but I know my guys head over heels about me and that's so much more than most have. Oh God, I sound so sappy, and it's the day after. (eyes rolling)

    Smoochy, Smoochy elmo!

    Luv 4-ever,
    Kary

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    Replies
    1. I think you sound like a woman in love and that is a blessing.

      Smoochy, Smoochy cap'n!

      Right back atcha,
      Sherry

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