I was going to make this a sweet little post to my DH about how I love how he and I make we.  I found this cute photo here:

Then I threw up in my mouth a little.

I’m not a Valentine’s Day Hater.  Really, I’m not.  I’m all in favor of a holiday that encourages the giving of gifts, especially one where women a clearly the intended recipients.  Still, Valentine’s Day is just the 14th day in February. I’m not saying that because I’m married either.  I’ve come to believe that how you choose to demonstrate your love for someone else, shouldn’t be reserved for one day of the year. If you’re loving someone all day everyday, there wouldn’t be a need for over-the-top declarations, proclamations, exclamations and consummations of love.  

Call me a prude, but PDA (public displays of affection) makes me cringe. I’m a closed romantic, as in I keep my romance behind closed doors.   Certainly, if you feel compelled to put your heart on your sleeve, send singing telegrams and have Shakespearean sonnets spelled out in the sky, go for it.  Expressions of love can range from the far-out, uber-public to the private, thoughtful and just-between-us.

After I got engaged, my brother asked me how I knew that DH was The One. How did I know that I loved him above everyone else?  I’m no Voltaire, but every once in a while, I can truly wax philosophical.  The little love nuggets I passed to my brother were totally on the mark.  How do you know you know you love someone — and when I say love, I’m talking romantic love?  When you realize they aren’t the person you can live with, but that they’re the person you can’t live without.  

I know, I’m deep. 

So, even though Hallmark has the market cornered on Valentine’s paraphernalia (sorry American Greetings), they won’t be getting my business this year.  And too bad for you, dear reader, as you won’t be privy to what goes on between me and my Valentine, either.  Conjure up your own best ever Valentine’s Day scenario and just insert us as the characters. Keep it PG, people. 

Side Note:  I helped Morgan and Coever put together their Valentine’s to hand out to their classmates.  The selections at the store were overwhelming. Gone are the conversation hearts and in their stead you could have temporary tattoos, pencils, all manner of chocolate confection, Silly Bandz, stickers, and lip-glosses.   There were singing bears, kissing bears, hugging bears, and for the grown-ups, bears promising naughty favors all in the name of love.  There were heart shaped garlands, Cupid shaped garlands, streamers, balloons, and assorted party products.  Every major character got into the act — Hello Kitty, Tinker Bell, Woody and Buzz, Barbie, and Lightening McQueen.  The girls made their selections, though it was not without several changes of heart before we made it to the register.  Morgan kept insisting that we needed more stuff.  I couldn’t figure it out.  We had gotten her Valentine’s. She and Coever both had stickers at home, chocolates, too.  What could she possibly want or need? 

“We need to decorate!” she declared.

“Why would we need to do that?” I asked.

 “So that Cupid will know where to find us.”

 Yeah, I’ll get right on that.