Valentine's Day

I know so many people out there see Valentine's Day as a Hallmark holiday, and yes it is somewhat, but it's also helpful when you need a boost in a relationship sometimes.  Mark and I have been together for almost 17 years, that's half of my life!  There have been ups and downs, days I want to strangle him and others when I would love to spend the whole day in bed with him.  I know deep down in my bones though, that he is the one for me, my best friend.  I'm so tangled up in him that there is no way we will ever be apart, so Valentine's Day is just a day for us to remember how all that tangled-up-ness started.

Our first Valentine's Day was back in 1996.  It was close to the only day I'd had off from musical practice at school in a month and a half and it was one day before our six month anniversary.  Back then we celebrated every month.  I can remember going to Mark's house and he had made me dinner, one of those pre-cooked chickens from the grocery store, mashed potatoes that his mom helped him with and can of corn.  He set up a card table in the basement and light a ton of candles.  There were balloons and flowers on the table.  We danced to Rainbow Connection and ate dinner together.  It was cheesy and wonderful and perfect to my 18 year old eyes.  No guy I had ever dated had done anything like that for me before.

Now, all these years later, Valentine's Day is different.  We are going to Brennan's for lunch because I'm craving their pretzel bread sandwich (yummo) and Mark requested bacon sandwiches for dinner.  Exciting!  Plus, I have dance class tonight, so romantic right?  But it will be another Valentine's Day under our belt.  And Annabelle is here with us to celebrate, to tell each other how much we love each other.  It may not be very memorable but I wouldn't change it for anything.

I love you Mark!