Valentine's Day 2008

I have always wanted to have a great Valentine's Day ever since I was a little girl. Yup. I was the one who got maybe 5 valentines in a class of 30 kids. Every year. I finally smartened up and realized that the 5 meant more than the missing 25. And every year I got one from two of the guys in the class who were probably the dearest in my life. I would have been happy if I had married either of them. One is married now and happy (although someone once told me he waited years for me to get out of college and look him up but geez, inaction on his part was NOT my fault!). The other has never married and to this day I would really love to get his attention but, sadly, that will never happen. He lives in Maine. I tried at our 30th reunion 4 years ago to no avail. Some things, it appears, are just not meant to be.

So suffice it to say it's been a very long time since Valentine's Day has held any real hope for me. Those of you reading this who know, or know of, my two husbands understands why. It is truly a sad day for someone who is a true romantic at heart but who knows reality is often very disappointing. I have given up on the notion of romantic love because I am bad at it. Love for friends and family, however, is another story. I love them dearly and am lucky to have great family and fabulous friends. I post about that often.

And so I expected this would be just another Thursday. I like Thursday because it means I only have to work a half day tomorrow. And today, even better because I got to take the afternoon mail to the mailbox which meant I got to leave early. But that's not quite everything this Thursday had in store for me.

It started with two See's chocolates from my dearest friend Jo. She made my day! They were so yummy that I just couldn't wait for lunch. :)

My adopted brother David brought me a funny card and a little box of Russell Stover chocolates, too. I found those in my chair at work.

So here's a picture of my chocolate haul! OK... the boxes. The chocolates are gone. hehehehe. Sorry it's out of focus but I had to get really close to get them both in the shot and hence, no focus. (Go ahead, say it - "But you're *never* in focus anyway!")

So I hope everyone had something they enjoyed today, even if it was nothing more than a pleasant email or a smile from a stranger. I'm really blessed to have family and friends and as long as I have them to love, who needs romance on Valentine's Day? Maybe others but not me. I'm doing ok without it.

Two Items

First Thing

There are certain songs that remind me of certain people and places and events. For instance, I can never hear Neil Diamond's "Forever In Blue Jeans" without immediately thinking of weekends spent with my friends Bev and Jeannie where we not only listened to Neil Diamond all weekend but had champagne breakfast Sunday mornings. Oh my. And The Eagles "Takin' It Easy" always reminds me of my dad. He loved that song. So as I was popping in a different CD Thursday night and found it was one of my mixes, when the first song came on, it was "Forever In Blue Jeans" and I thought of younger days. Then later on the CD is "Running on Empty" and yet more memories. I need to dig out my older music more often. Boz Scaggs and his "Silk Degrees" album brings me back to college. But all things said, I'm glad I'm the age I am. I'm not sure I could take another 40 or 50 years from this point forward. No wonder as we get older we remember the past more.

Second Thing

I'm not sure what it says about my life (and I don't care) but the love of my life is a guy with very few teeth, a great smile, with pants that fall down and who needs help with stairs, who makes a real mess when he eats, needs naps and has very little hair. This means he is either 80 or a small child. I elect the small child. It's Matt. Yup, the love of my life. How could you not love this?

Home from Hemet

I am home. I'm not sure I've had enough rest yet but I'm having my coffee and getting moving. I watched Matt by myself yesterday and after the first hour things were fine. He's just not used to being with people other than mommy and daddy but he will.

I love spending time with them. It is hard, though, when I come home. But I come home and everything is where I left it and I don't have to worry about whether I unpack right then or the next day.

This is just quick. I will post a picture or two later. Until then...