As Valentine's Day comes and goes, we think about the gifts we give and get. Cards. Chocolate. Flowers. Jewelry. A sports car. WHAT? No wait, unless you want to give me a sports car. I certainly wouldn’t refuse it.
But seriously, thinking about the years when hub and I would
give each other gifts (we don’t any more due to finances and it’s certainly
less stressful that way) and what I wanted versus what I got. My husband can,
at times, be romantic, but most times Valentine’s Day was a quickly rushed purchase.
For the longest time, he would buy me a big heart-shaped box
of chocolates. And most people would think that was great. But as a picky eater
(and someone who hates nuts of any kind) many of the chocolates I didn’t like.
Thus, he would get to eat all the ones I didn’t. Which was most of them.
Finally, after years of getting maybe three or four of the
twenty plus chocolates in the box, plus the box of chocolate covered cherries I
bought for him (his favorite) I let him know I really didn’t want chocolates
for Valentine’s Day. I would much prefer flowers.
So then I’d get the rushed grocery store bouquet that he
picked up when he got his beer. Better, but it took many more years before he
(occasionally) went all out and got me my favorite – peach roses.
Honestly, though, I am very thankful I have a husband who
stands by my side and supports me in all I do, even if he isn’t the most
romantic man in the world. To his credit, he has done some incredibly romantic
things (look back and see last year’s post in Feb from me)
This year, we are in sunny Florida enjoying the nicer
weather instead of shoveling two feet of snow in ten-degree weather. That’s a
lovely present in my book. What I would love more than anything is peace and
harmony and health in a world gone crazy.
Stay positive,
remember the blessings we do have, and read lots of romance!!
Kari
As always, I have lots of books you can buy and here are some of the places you can find me and them.
PS if you join my FB group The Lit Lounge, there’s a post
with a FREE prequel to one of my romantic suspense books.
It's kind of a hard thing to come to understand that sometimes we have to ask for the kind of romance we want. I LOVE supermarket flowers, but even then I had to swallow and tell my dh that I wanted colored ones, not white. Enjoy the warmth and shoveling that sunshine!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! Yeah, I've begun to realize he can't read my mind no matter how much I want him to.
DeleteMine used to grab me the cheapest bouquet of mini-carnations he could get...until Irealized they were his mom’s favourite.Once I pointed that out...he saw the light! LOL
ReplyDeleteUh, yes, good to know and to let him know.
DeleteI purposefully specified romantic Alpha male. My discarded unromantic beta was not a good match, but romantic gestures take on many forms.
ReplyDeleteLack of 'romance" is fine if they are rich in all the other things that matter.
DeleteI just had to explain to a male friend that if he was going to buy his roses from the supermarket, get rid of the plastic, wrap in tissue and add ribbon. I even did it for him to present to his current girlfriend. He did take her for a wonderful brunch and he did get her Vicky's Secrets. Many men are coachable but start early.
ReplyDeleteYou are a wonderful friend for helping him out!
DeleteMy husband does a good job! I always get flowers but I get a different kind each year. It's always a surprise which ones he choose. I looooooove him! this year he got me yellow tulips!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Tulips are cool and it's great that he varies it up a bit.
DeleteCharming post, Kari! When Mr. H and I are younger we'd go out for Valentine's Day, swap cards and candy. But, like you guys, we gave all that up. (Am I allowed to admit that as a romance author?!! hahaha) It's the little things each day, the small romantic gestures, that mean the most to me now. Guessing we're on to something, considering we've been married almost 35 years. Enjoy sunny Florida and send us some sunshine!
ReplyDeleteYes, the fact you've been married that long shows there is still romance around!!
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