Saturday, February 15, 2014

How to Screw Up Valentines Day

I've noticed Valentines Day looms as a harbinger of anxiety and disappointment.

Expectations run high and the stakes higher. With that comes a list of ways to mess up:
-you forgot to order flowers
-you receive flowers, but your fake excitement wouldn't even land you a part on day time TV
-you made your own card using crayons
-you bought chocolates when your sweetie gave up sugar months ago
-you failed to make dinner reservations and now the only table available is at Taco Bell
-you go out for a fancy dinner but wish you were in you pjs watching Netflix with a bowl of popcorn
-you thought a new dish rag says "I love you, " but they wanted jewelry
-you got jewelry and feel an overwhelming impulse to run out the front door

My sweetie carries Valentines anxiety, but lucky for him flowers or a dinner date on February 14 totally freak me out. The idea of doing what's conventional generally makes me squirm. When my emotions or behaviors feel scripted, I panic.

Yesterday, Dev and I raced full wheel barrows of manure through the mucky snow to the compost heap. We shopped for seeds and planted the greenhouse. We spent an hour digging in the half-frozen mud, liberating a rabbit hutch gifted from a neighbor. We walked the property talking ideas, plans, and projects. Over dinner, we looked at a poultry catalogue, munching on greens we grew topped with goat cheese and carrots from our friends.

Yesterday, without making any plans to do anything, we celebrated the life we share and the joy of being a team. I can't think of anything more romantic.












6 comments:

  1. Haha! That sounds like just my kind of romance, too.
    -Jaime

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    1. Indeed, I have the softest spot for a spontaneous work day.

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  2. Sounds like the perfect Valentines Day to me! Thank you for the blog visit! I appreciate your taking time to comment. I love your photos. My kind of art. :)

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  3. What a lovely Valentine's Day! Your greenhouse looks amazing. Nothing like fresh greens (and carrots?) in February. :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Caroline! Our green house is much more modest and humble. It's an actual little house. The high tunnel pictured belongs to my friend Kerry. I feel so lucky to have a friend who's a teacher, a runner, and a farmer--plus she hooks me up with extra kale when my whole family comes to town. I only grow enough for my sweetie and me at this point.

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