It’s Valentine’s Day. I feel a personal responsibility to uphold the value of this particular holiday.
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Here’s the thing about today. I know there are parents out there who strive to make it a “family” holiday, something where we talk about how much we luv each other, and luv our friends, and luv our pets, and luv Sponge Bob. I should not roll my eyes at this. I should not make fun of this. I should recognize that yes, Jesus wants us to luv everyone so why not make today about everyone?
Because I can’t. I can’t pretend that putting your children/dog/remote in the middle of your marriage, the pew at church (of which I’m totally guilty), or your bed is okay 365 days of the year. I’ll give you 364 of them with absolutely not much judgement, but I’ve got to hold out and uphold the value of today.
If you’d rather spend your Valentine’s Day Eve with a bunch of little rugrats instead of the man who gave them to you, it just might be time to reevaluate.
Tonight, just as Jason started the dishwasher (ahem, big hint there fellas) Englebert Humperdink came on KIXI AM 880 out of Seattle with, “Quando Quando Quando.” I love this song and I love the way he sings it. And my man? He asked me to dance. Doesn’t happen very often and I never turn it down.
And while we held one another inappropriately close, Jason and I confessed something to each other:
For the first time in 13 years we don’t have a darn thing planned for Valentine’s Day.
It kind of rocks.
We have not invested in cards, flowers, or reservations of any kind. There will be no hidden balloons, singing telegrams waiting in the frigid bushes, or naughty poetry. Heck, I haven’t even stopped to think of an outfit. I’ll probably just show up in my birthday suit and call it a day. I have the feeling that will work out just fine.
I am sure that in it’s way this year will be as memorable as any other; we do have the babysitter scheduled and plan to leave the house unaccompanied. Who knows? We might hit the drive through and go make out in the car.
Standing in his really nice arms tonight smelling today’s leftover cologne, with Englebert and the hum of the dishwasher in the background, I don’t think I could have loved that man any more.
Crazy are we. With all the miscommunications and bad habits and public yelling matches (always one-sided, guess which one?) we still love to crawl in bed with each other at the end of the day.
This year for Valentine’s Day I’m giving Jason a song. It’s an old one, and I bet you never stopped to think about how romantic it really is. But after this many years together the fact that I still feel like this on such a regular basis is nothing short of magical. (If you’re stateside you can listen to it on YouTube, but I can’t link it).
“Heavenly shades of night are falling, it’s twilight time
Out of the mist your voice is calling, ’tis twilight time
When purple-colored curtains mark the end of day
I’ll hear you, my dear, at twilight time
Deepening shadows gather splendor as day is done
Fingers of night will soon surrender the setting sun
I count the moments darling till you’re here with me
Together at last at twilight time
Here, in the afterglow of day, we keep our rendezvous beneath the blue
And, in the same and sweet old way I fall in love again as I did then
Deep in the dark your kiss will thrill me like days of old
Lighting the spark of love that fills me with dreams untold
Each day I pray for evening just to be with you
Together at last at twilight time”
Those last two lines say it all. Jason, I am crazy for you. See you at five.
LOVE THAT SONG…..I was singing it the whole time reading the lyrics.
Sometimes the best valentines days (and pretty much any “scheduled occasion”, ) are the Best ones.
Me and my hubby slow dance in the house too, as we often have the radio on. No one looking at us, just some coyote in the field going “hooowwwwl)
I think that’s sweet! I honestly didn’t even remember until tonight that tomorrow is VD. And I don’t really care. AT ALL.
Good for you! Have a fantastic day!
(And I must confess (and hope my husband doesn’t read this) that the reason I made it about the family is because I was so tired of being consistently disappointed.)
This made me feel terribly sappy and depressed! Longing for something more like yours. But my own. Kid free and with a man worthy of love like the love you have for Jason! Have a fabulous kid free night 🙂
What does it say about me that I know all the words to Cuando, Cuando, Cuando — and that I count it as a source of personal pride that I once spoke on the telephone with Engelbert Humperdink himself — but had no idea what that other song was? We’re guilty of the ‘not much for Valentine’s Day’ sin, but so far no one’s complaining. Our anniversary is exactly 4 weeks later (except on Leap Years) and that really is the day when the kids can stuff themselves with pizza and watch ninja movies all night — cuz mom and dad have plans that don’t include them.