Happy Valentine's Day!

My husband is very sweet. He is kind and thoughtful and loves to bring me gifts. He usually brings chocolate because he knows me. One time, for no reason at all, he brought home a gift certificate for me to go get a manicure/pedicure. It was something I NEVER would have bought for myself. When I got to the nail place, the lady helping me said, "Oh, was that your husband who was in here earlier?" She told me that she had never seen another husband buy something like that for his wife. Really? I said. All the women who worked at the salon raved about how sweet and kind Chris was to get me that gift. One of them asked, "Does he always do things like that?" I said, "Yes." I think that's when I realized he's not a normal husband. I thought all husbands did things like that all the time and for no reason at all.

Because Chris is naturally so thoughtful and kind, there are a couple of Valentine's Days that stand out to me. Before I tell these stories, which I find hilarious, please note that I'm not much of a traditional romantic and this particular holiday isn't that big of a deal to me.

One year, I went out of my way to find a babysitter for Valentine's Day. Back then, leaving the kids was a major ordeal. We drove all the way from Park City to West Valley (about 45 minutes) to leave the kids with my sister. We spent the whole drive listening to a pre-game show on the radio. Apparently, I had planned our special date during the most important basketball game of the season. Not only did we get to listen to the pre-game show, I got to listen to Chris' exasperation that I had planned the date during the most important basketball game of the season. We were going to see a movie, but I had to eat first because I was pregnant. Well, that's just an excuse. I always have to eat first. Chris pulled into a fast food place and put the car in park, but didn't turn it off. I asked if he was coming in with me and he said, "NO! I'm listening to the game!" He didn't shout at me--he just has a certain level of passion about sports. In the end, he did come to the movie with me. He enjoyed it. We both enjoyed it. And we got to listen to the post-game show on the way home.

And then there was this one. We had a lovely date in the early evening. We were home and all the kids were asleep by 8:00!! Unbelievable! We had a whole evening to ourselves. So, Chris went to rent a couple of romantic movies. He came home and gave me a choice between Vantage Point and Scorpion King 2. I love it when Chris does things like this because it gives me such great story-telling ideas for later. I told a friend about the evening and he said, "I hope you picked Scorpion King 2 because that just screams Valentine's Day!" I didn't. I chose Vantage Point. Before you worry about me in this situation, remember that Chris went to see Twilight 2 (whatever it's called) without me--and I stayed home to watch Jason Bourne. I'm fine.

And then there was tonight. I just had my appendix out last week and I'm not feeling great. I have been lying around all week watching Chris sweetly do my work. And his work. And recover from jet lag after a week in England. He's amazing. Anyway, tonight I went out of the house--I got all dressed up in my yoga pants to look presentable--and went to hear him sing. Chris had a date with a bunch of old ladies. My grandma used to live in a retirement community and every once in a while, Chris would put on a concert for Grandma and her friends. She doesn't live there any more. She's moved on to an assisted living center. But the tradition continues. Tonight, I got to sit with my kids and listen to Chris sing love songs. He sang Nat King Cole, the Monkees, Don Ho, John Denver, and a bunch of his own songs. Chris croons and the old ladies swoon. He is such a charmer. I still think what I thunk the first time I saw Chris: he has a rich, smooth voice that I could listen to endlessly. It was a lovely Valentine's Day for me, just like usual.

I have always believed that romance isn't so much about what you're doing as who you are with. And I am with the one I love.