Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for February 15, 2015

I had lunch during work’s lunch break with my father, stepmother, and stepmother’s granddaughters. In other words, just work and meal with family was how I spent my V Day.

We are an “old married couple” (40 years) and I took my wife out for a fine meal, bought her a nice piece of jewelry and a box of Godiva truffles – and a card. We don’t do cut flowers as our two cats try to eat them. She had a mojito with the meal (I drove so no drinks for me) and I took her shoe shopping, then to the movies. Not bad for an “old married couple”.

Well, since the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley, ours got slightly glitched last night. Oh, well….maybe next year.

Could have order a singingvalentines.com . It’s not too late!

We went to the store, picked out cards, read them, put them back, picked out two boxes of candy, put them back and left the store hand in hand.

We were watching our 8 month old grandson while Daddy surprised Mommy with dinner. Doesn’t get any better than that.

I took my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter to Chuckie Cheese pizzeria and arcade while Mom and Dad had a romantic lunch and movie date. Then we all had frozen fishsticks and tater tots for supper and watched Sleeping Beauty on the TV before bedtime. It was a great day for all.

Maybe it’s because the kids are getting along, but the last frame strikes me as really nice.

I can’t wait until I can go out for leisurely strolls like that. It’s currently -21 c or -6 f with a wind chill that is horrible.

My husband and I give each other the cards we gave each other 11 years ago when we spent Valentine’s Day in New Orlelans. We just take them out and put them up every year. The sentiment is the same!

We have also been married 40 years – went to a brand new Japanese restaurant and held hands while we ate. (I’m a south paw and Hubby is right handed. Works out nicely.) No cards, no chocolate and, please, no more jewelry! Just enjoyed each other’s company.

And Hawg, we used to have cat that would drag flowers out of arrangements and carry them around. Four-footed Carmen.

Of course Joan.

Yesterday was my day off. My man and I figure we have all year to give/get/show our love in all kinds of ways. We don’t need 1 day a year that ends up overpriced for us to appreciate what we have. I’ll find a card in the middle of the week or go to get in my car after work and find a flower on my seat. My favorite is when I get home and he’s just finished laundry. I show him by getting his favorite treats, the occasional backrub, and we both overuse I love you.

Still remember the Valentines hubby and I exchanged one year. I opened mine first and burst out laughing while I was taking it out of its envelope. We’d picked the exact same cards for each other that year. We were married nearly 55 years.

I’ve enjoyed reading about people’s Valentine’s Days. We did something a little different – my husband’s high school Class of ‘52, mine of ’53, and the elderly ’51’ers (:-) ) got together at the Veteran’s War Memorial Park on Boca Ciega Bay and had a picnic. We were having a cold spell (for us), with a high of 60, plus gusts, but about thirty (more or less) of us braved the weather and had a great time.

Our day started out grouchily, as usual, because I took too long making a great quantity of Greek salad and putting the finishing can of cherry filling on the cheesecake I’d made on Thursday. (Had done my “cook for the homeless” bit on Friday and then we had gone to our 47-yr. group meeting.)

Unfortunately, I did something to a right rib after using the salad spinner vigorously for the Romaine. Had to pull on a ripcord-like thing repeatedly. (I had fallen against a doorjamb on, like, Tuesday.) I went “Ow!” a lot, and was all stove up for the picnic. Skipped gym yesterday, but had a leisurely afternoon. We did our computer stuff (he photoshopped his photos, and I caught up with GoComics comments, etc.), then we ate a bunch of the Greek salad, some of the cheesecake, then on and off watched stuff like Wheels that Fail and Overhaulin’ on the Velocity channel. (We have elegant tastes.)

Just after 12:00 midnight, I remembered to read my card from him, which said something to the effect that he has enjoyed the ride. We had given each other a tiny Russell Stover heart-shaped box of chocolates (for him) and a flower arrangement (for me – still sitting by my Feb. 4th birthday bouquet). The day was a big success.

I feel a newby by comments on years of marriage. For hubby and I 33 years. I have very sweet man, for me no flowers cost too much, no chocolate limited, and not card yet my sweet hubby bought me a necklace key to the heart and earrings, even better we picked up my mom who has not sure level of Dementia she no longer drives and does not go out to eat much so a treat for her, we three went to a buffet for a nice meal and then to grocery shopping. My hubby is so sweet with having my mom be with us. A loving hubby.

sounds like us. Married almost 53 years, no cards, flowers candy. All too costly and last for a day. Instead we went out a couple of days before, caught all the 85% sales – each of us helping to pick out perfect outfits. then donated old, but gently used clothing to the shelters.

Better than what I’ve been getting for the last ten years. Of course, the wife’s had significant (even major) medical problems for a goodly number of those years; but it’s been over five years since we got it on.