Love To Love

I have been thinking: how to turn Valentine's day into a family affair? I, admittedly, am like any other person who welcomes the chance to celebrate. However, to go through the motions of reserving, parking, waiting, only to be given mostly harried service (this, speaking from a lifetime of Valentine's Day experience) for a romantic evening for two with the valentine works (along with the rest of the city) is too much for my nerves. Whatever mood of love I want to kindle, I'm sure, can be recreated at home. Besides, this guarantees that I am not having a late night out tonight, early sleeper that I am.

I know. I have really turned into this practical, lazy, old woman. But seriously, what should a Valentine's date mean compared to random days of receiving roses from my hubby who loves giving them to me for no particular occasion? The way he looks at me at times, with a kind of warmth and familiarity that only goes with the security of mature and accepting love? The way he holds my hand, tightly, when we are walking, in the car, watching a movie, while sleeping? The way he had changed in certain ways, not because I wanted him to but because I know deep down it is for wanting to please me? The way he puts up with my crazy mood swings, laughs at my fits of impulsive temper, and talks to our dog about it? The way he treats my mom who loves him dearly for it? The way I can rest my head on his shoulders and feel safe like a child?

I live with all these things everyday and take them for granted. Now, when I stop to think about it, I am just so whelmed with gratitude. How did it all finally come to this? For years and years we tried ( and copped out for 7, even ) and find ourselves together, like this, after all this time, he, with the same strong shoulders, less hair, more tummy, while I, with short hair now, become too practical and two dress sizes more, with three children between us and all those years of laughter, tears, and recently, calm and peace?


Shakespeare wrote:


Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments, love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come,
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.


I am an advocate for love, I have to be. I'm even all for the cliche that love is for fools wise enough to take a chance, for a faint heart never a true love knows. It's really true. And I have been a warrior and conquered and would not have done it any other way.

I love that when I think about love today, on Valentine's day, I find my heart so full of it. I think it is also a great time to take out the fondue set and have Fondue Bourguignonne, extra sinful deadly chocolate cake and Cabernet Saugvinon. All this at home, tonight, with my husband and the kids, so good for the soul, and to live happily ever after with. Yes, I am, after all, a sucker for love.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Filed Under: Love