Happy Half-Price Candy Eve

Oh, hi Valentine's Day. As you know, I'm meh on the non-candy aspects of this holiday. The first Valentine's Day that Mike and I were together, I was in another country and he managed to get flowers delivered to me which is pretty damn impressive in those pre-internet days. After that first one we just sort of agreed that Vday wasn't really our thing. No judgment on any way anyone else wants to observe the day or not, it just doesn't jive with either of our love languages. When we remember to write them we exchange cards, and we always do a little special something for HR, but otherwise it's a day like any other. This year we actually had plans, because the timing worked out just right, to go on a daytime date while our kid's at school and we're both working from home. Nothing fancy, just the pub where we're regulars, but I was looking forward to it and then I remembered that this is the week our work schedule changes so here I am in the office and not eating fish and chips with mah husband. No big, as it was more of a general date than a Valentine's specific one anyway, and now I have something to anticipate later in the week. All that was just a lead-up to describing the best Valentine's Day of my life, a day I knew was special as I was living it. I even wrote it all down to remember it, but I never shared my awesome day  before now because of COVID paranoia, basically. 

Last winter, like everyone else we know, we were burned out on life so we formed a pod with our best good friends and decamped to an Air BnB in Florida for a couple of weeks for a change of scenery and a chance to be outside. We were all working remotely and our kids were in virtual school on the verge of February break so, with a not-insignificant amount of caution and second guessing (at this time Mike and I were the only ones even half vaxxed because of our jobs) we bought the cheap tickets, knocked wood, double masked, and relocated for a spell. It turned out to be great, and nobody got sick, but we didn't really advertise our travels because we were still uneasy about the whole thing. Anyway, the first Sunday we were there happened to be Valentine's Day. And it went like this: 

We woke up to dolphins swimming in the canal behind the house so we took our coffee to the dock to watch. It was warm enough to be barefoot, in shorts, and that alone was a balm for these cooped-up Northerners. My friend and I took an intense and awesome Zoom yoga class. I spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool, drinking mimosas and reading cozy mysteries while my dear ones moved easily in and out of my consciousness. There was steak on the grill in the evening, and a game of online trivia that we played together. No presents, no overtures, just a super awesome day spent with people I adore, everyone in a happy groove.  The anatomy of a truly magical day is never going to be the same for any two people, but there's some insight into mine. My tastes are simple and evergreen: books, delicious food and drink, personal space but with the option to let people in at will. Seeing a favorite animal in the wild didn't hurt, but that was just a surprise variable. Valentine's itself had little to do with the perfection of that Sunday, it's a coincidence that it was a holiday, but it's still one I'll always remember.

This year, well, see the difference below. 

Anyway, here's to good days, may you recognize them when they are happening to you. 

Comments

[Megan]

I love your hair! I may have missed that you cut it - but it looks a-mazing! Not too long ago you had posted a pic with your long hair and I was thinking damn your hair looks great long - now I'm thinking the same thing with your shorter style!

[Dawn]

Thank you so much! The cut is pretty new. My pandemic locks were fun for awhile, but it was time for a change. XOXO