Today I’m eating crow.
As you all know, it is Valentine’s Day. Yesterday, the facebook statuses started trickling into my news feed. You know the ones, posting what their sweetheart got them. I don’t really know what came over me, because I’m not against love or the designated day of love, but I just got a little nauseated thinking of what everyone would be saying about their lovers. So I put as my facebook status,
Gag. I think I’m staying off fb tomorrow. I can only handle so much lovey dovey crap and I’m pretty sure I’ve already reached my limit. Bah humbug.
This is me. I’m not a romantic. Big surprise. I’m not really fond of physical affection (Please insert sympathy for my husband here). I don’t think you should tell your 900 followers how great your spouse is and how much you love them on facebook when you should walk into the next room and tell them to their face, if in fact you really do feel that way. Nor do I like the bragging, the pictures of all the candy, flowers, diamonds, tickets to Hawaii etc. Sidenote: I do however enjoy seeing the pictures of kids dressed in their valentine attire holding their little valentine boxes they worked hard on.
So I had a few people like what I had to say, surprisingly they weren’t all single, and I got a little teasing from it as well, along with some comments of commiseration. It was all in fun of course.
When I woke up this morning, February 14, my husband was gone. I knew he’d made a run to The Walmarts before they crazy crowd hit. I was expecting the usual, but what I got was not the usual and it truly made my day. I have to share it. And I’m not bragging.
It’s not going to mean a thing in the world to anyone else. It is not a fancy diamond or a sports car with a red bow. It is not a new puppy or a day at the spa.
What I got…………drumrolll please………….is………..
……..a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.
And rolos. Because, duh?
Now some of you may be furrowing your brow and looking puzzled, but I am smiling. I can’t help but smile. When he handed that to me, I laughed and laughed and laughed.
It is quite frankly, my favorite line from one of my favorite movies You’ve Got Mail, where Tom Hanks tells Meg Ryan,
“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”
I love fall, school supplies, that movie, Meg Ryan, and newly sharpened pencils. The smell of them, the way they sound scratching on paper, all of it.One time in our life, I told Jason that I loved that line, that idea. Whether it was last year or 9 years ago, who knows. But he remembered my attraction to that silly notion, how I too would love to receive a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.So, that’s what I have.I love it. I’m not ever going to use them for it will mess up the meaningful arrangement that he constructed. My gift? It is thoughtful. It is unique. It is creative and meaningful. It is an inside joke. It is one of the most romantic things he could have done.Love is not about a day, friends. It’s not about a feeling you get in your stomach when you see a certain someone. It’s not about how much money you spend. Love is about the everyday things you do for one another. It’s about consciously putting other’s needs above your own. It’s about sacrifice and never giving up. Love is our greatest commandment from Jesus to love one another, to love your neighbor as yourself.Love is patient. Love is kind.Love is a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.
Published by Angel
I’m Angel, a.k.a. Rocket Surgeon, and these are my chronicles. I love writing and I believe our stories should be shared, so here you’ll find anecdotes of my life, loves, worries, fears, joys, and experiences.
I blog about my mishaps and adventures as a wife, mommy, auntie, wanna-be writer, teacher, Texan, country/city/mountain girl, cereal killer and Jesus-freak.
A few things you might discover about me:
•Jesus is my everything; without Him I am nothing, but with him I can do all things
•My family makes this world a better place for me to live in
•I adore chickens, the live ones, although the cooked ones aren’t too bad either
•I have 2 dogs: Grace and Ozzie. And one cat: Rocky Muffin
•My dream job would be to raise chickens and write best sellers
Thanks for stopping by. Kick off your shoes and stay awhile. I know your time is valuable and I honor you for spending a few moments here with me. I hope you find something to brighten your day, lighten your load, make you chuckle and remind you of the good in the world.
“When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will." Pollyanna
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Angel Wheeler 
I love it!! I totally agree with you, it’s about the everyday things…your actual relationship that matters. Bravo Jason for remembering something sweet and a lil silly! Love it!
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Yes it is about the everyday things. Everyday should be valentines really.
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Good job, Jason! It will probably be the gift you always remember. My favorite gift from Kenny wasa sewing machine about 23 yrs ago.
I don’t think of V day as about romantic love but a time to stop & tell all the loves in your life that you love them.
I too hate the proclamations on FB. It always makes me think, “me think thee doth protest too much.”
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Oh wise one, Dana. You’re probably correct. Do you still use that same sewing machine?
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But are you going to eat the rolos?
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Oh yeah … good job, J-Dub!!! The fact that he remembers (and listened !) what you said some time ago, speak volumes to his love for you! I’d take that over all that other “stuff” any day! We are fortunate to have our “guys”, aren’t we? (I so remember that line in the movie and when you said he got you a bouquet of pencils, I thought of it immediately!) I know you will always hold a special place in your heart for that movie, even more so now! And the Rolos … they’d so be gone by now at this household! Until next time .. Donna H.
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This was great.
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Thank you!!!
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That was a lovely gift…I too am one of those who can spend hours looking for the best pen or stationery item. (Did I spell correctly? ‘Ery’ and ‘ary’) LOL
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Thanks!
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