Mmmm, I just had a dream…
(I’m smiling…what a sweetie…) about?
I was rebuilding a machine and I got a call telling me of a mafia connection…
(oh.)
Well, Happy Valentine’s Day to you anyway…
It’s just a Hallmark holiday!
Clarification: Hallmark was founded in 1910; according to Wikipedia, St. Valentine’s Day was first described much earlier:
The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in 1382, by Geoffrey Chaucer:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate].
..written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. They were married in 1381. He was 13. She was 14.
True, these days, I understand that one billion Valentine’s Day cards are indeed sent out to (one hopes) loved ones worldwide.
And guess who is not getting one?
OVERHEARD (later):
Richard, hi, this is Ed. I need that instructional video on repairing a spindle…Yes, great. Tried to call you last Friday. Oh, you took the afternoon off? To be with her? So what are you doing for Valentine’s Day? You got her a card? And body oil?
(how nice!)
Me? Oh, I did nothing. (big grin)
(and proud of it)
And proud of it!
(LATER)
Okay, okay, we’ll go to the mall and pick out a card.
(forget it! who wants to pick her own card?! and support Hallmark in the process?!)
(LATER)
I ask my students: how many of you think Valentine’s Day is silly?
I count hands. Half the class.
(LATER)
I note in the front office at 11 a.m. three staff members are receiving dozens of roses from their husbands. Wonderful.
But then:
(LATER)
I promise you, it’s okay. I rented a romantic comedy from the video store. I do not mind watching it alone tonight so that you can spend time with your cats.
(Why this incredibly conciliatory tone on my part? Because in exchange for not celebrating St. Valentine’s, my occasional, indeed, these days VERY occasional traveling companion offered to head up north tomorrow. For the hell of it. To embrace the outdoors. Soooo sweet! And yes, we're mindful of the snowstrom predictions. Oh, Wisconsin!)
(LATER)
You want to go to the mall and buy t-shirts?
(I’m charmed. My occasional traveling companion hates malls, hates shopping, clothes acquisition, spending money, using fuel… He must be thinking: it’s Valentine’s Day!)
At the mall we encounter men looking (belatedly? desperately?) for something to give to their (deserving!) sweetie.
chocolate?
lace? lotion?
Victoria’s Secret and Godiva chocolates are doing well.
Elsewhere, we buy the t-shirts and are almost ready to head back…
Say, do you mind if we stop at Sears?
(Really?)
I want to see if they have their computer operated wood milling machine…
They do.
Five minutes, okay?
At least it’s next to the exercise equipment. I go through an entire upper body work out program before he finishes studying the details.
machines
We head toward the Great Dane Pub. He eats a salad, I eat a hunk of meat. Sometimes, just sometimes, we don’t conform to gender stereotypes.
That sounds like a terrific Valentine's Day. First the (intentionally) overheard bravado conversation. Lots of face time, an insidious visit to a colorful emporium, glimpses of furtive natives contemplating potentially life-changing purchases (the wrong teddy bear, the allergy-inducing frond), some mystery (Is there a rosehip-sherry-filled chocolate involved somewhere?), suspicious misdirection at Sears, followed by red meat? Red meat? Oh, girl, oh blue-eyed innocent sweetness, you were a willing accomplice and still you were seduced! Right into his trap.
ReplyDeleteI got my wife some dumbbells for Valentine's Day. (She's been employing them in her workout, and needed a heavier set.) I included a card where I'd written a corny pun hoping our relationship would "strengthen".
ReplyDeleteAh, romance!
ryan
(ps: I could never understand a fellow buying lacy underthings for his gal as a V-Day gift. I mean, this really results in self-giving, no?)
I love you
ReplyDeleteI love you too.
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing...you're a rare breed. A great storyteller, a doting mother....you're young and vivacious and sexy and bright. A real rare find - and I doubt I'm the only person who notices these qualities about you. No, I'm not attempting to boost your ego. I bring up these points as evidence that there is *no reason* Ms. Nina Camic shouldn't have some seriously romantic Valentine's Day action - and I don't care if it's a Hallmark holiday.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I *am* a sucker for woodsy/fix-it/sheep shed gentlemen...there is no replacement for having a thoughtful man in your life, and that is precisely where your traveling companion seems to have fallen short.
But, chin up chap, because it seems like people either change to meet the circumstances or else the circumstances change to meet the people. Either way, we've got a better V-day in store for you next year, hopefully involving lots of lace and chocolate and tons of other corny crap that, strange but true, makes a person feel appreciated.
amen, megan. my thoughts exactly.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnons -- do you love each other? How do you know you're you?
ReplyDeleteIn general: VDay was interesting. But, you can't measure the worth of an occasional traveling companion by this stuff. I like fuss, but I like congenial companionship even more.
And, here's the thing: when I needed a new vacuum cleaner, Ed was there.
The guy just doesn't do holidays. It's not a good fit.
vivacious and sexy? i think not. she has what she deserves. they are both creepy people. and now, nina, you can hit the delete button.still true.
ReplyDeleteA musing: why read a blog of a person you hate... Seems like such a bad use of one's time.
ReplyDeleteDelete? Yes, I suppose I should. At some point.
At least her OTC took her out to eat -- all's well that ends well!
ReplyDeleteQ2
Oh, don't delete the nasty, Nina. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteDeleting only leads to often inaccurate speculation about who posted what, and often the wrong person tends to get blamed. Leave it up, so you can see if there are patterns.
Otherwise... you might start jumping to the wrong conclusions in your own head about who "hates" you. It's often sadder to be mistaken about the anonymous comments than it is to simply dismiss them as somebody trying to get your goat... and perhaps place suspicion on the "wrong" individual.
Althouse did that to me once -- said "Mary, a former student" left messages that I hadn't. If you're not certain, best not to wrongly accuse and make yourself online enemies is my motto. There's a lot of readers out here, afterall.
Say, did you get "Ed" to take you to Door County? His hatred of all things commercial makes me suspicious, but those little trees resembled a vineyard, no? Thankfully, never been there myself. Too rich for my blood, so to speak, and I prefer the lesser travelled Wisconsin destinations. Have a swell Saturday.
Oh... and I hope you're keeping an eye on the forecasts and planning to make it back before the storm that's expected Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThat "our lives are endangered!" genre might add some spice to your writing, but I think I speak for many readers in saying it might have already played its course, and we'd much rather not read about you being stuck with Ed in an enclosed car space (or worse!) by chancing it with Mother Nature. :-)
ps. I start to wonder who you might know that is computer savvy and enjoys the "anonymous" drama. Seems like that J.F. fellow enjoyed getting in on the "calling others out" action on his blog... you think he would be above doing so (seems like he has a lot of time on his hands) and placing suspicion on others? Some people like attention more than others, and that's a good way it seems to get in with the blog crew: finding a common enemy. If you're computer savvy enough, I understand there are ways even to manipulate/hide the incoming poster's isp's. Not that I personally am at that level, but the more computer savvy...
Just a thought. Don't make any accusations until you're certain is the show of a good legal mind...