Mushy Stuff

Valentine's Day is approaching. I am aware of that because of the advertisements in the newspapers strewn across the tables in the lunch room at work and hearing snippets of conversations between co-workers. There is an excitement akin to the Christmas holidays with people looking forward to presents, flowers, or at least a box of chocolates!

This is not a Bah-Humbug post. Not at all. In fact, I am one of the proponents of romance and love and mushy stuff. But in my case, I like that mushy stuff throughout the year, not on one day a year.

At our house we do not give each other Valentine's Day cards or presents or flowers or even chocolates. The reasons for this are:

We sneak little notes to each other several times a week, in a cupboard, in the medicine cabinet, on a pillow, inside a book one of us is currently reading or in an odd place that presents us with a happy surprise. There is no need to buy a card and sign it or even make a card when we do that all the time.

We do not buy presents for each other because we are at an age that we have what we need and want and the more important reason is that we have been the loveliest gift to each other and we are thankful for every day we have together. We are a gift to each other every day, not one day a year. Even when we argue, we don't want to hurt each other, we just want to be heard and get our opinion recognized as important.

Flowers are lovely and we each appreciate the glorious beauty of nature; however, seeing a smile on my beloved's face and the twinkle of the eyes brings more joy than a roomful of flowers could present.

Chocolates are not out of the question completely, except that we do not use any sugar; not natural sugar or synthetic sugars. The only sweeteners we have used for a year and a half are honey and pure maple syrup. We make our "candy" using carob and natural items and we share a piece of candy in a loving, peaceful atmosphere throughout the year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day and maybe some of the sweetness of this particular holiday will find its way into your life more often throughout the year and not be absent in your life until the next Valentine's Day.