Valentine's Day kind of blows. It's like the bastard child of New Year's Eve and birthdays after the age of 21; it's over-hyped, it's most often a disappointment, and you end up passed out after crying in a tub of Ben & Jerry's.
Most people don't really like the big V Day. Married or single. Men seem to really find it reprehensible. I have a friend who wished me Happy Valentine's Day; I'm pretty sure it almost killed him. I sounded like he was being waterboarded into saying it. He thinks that V Day is for young couples (gross) and kids with their little tiny paper Valentines in those cute miniature envelopes. He thinks anniversaries are for married folks and birthdays are for everyone else, so why add the pressure of a day in which you should sum up your love for someone with "pre-made bullshit". Huh. Have to admit, I agree.
Since I'm feeling a bit left out on this day of ick, I decided that I'll share things and experiences that I love with you, because those things never get it wrong for me. They never forget to call, or follow through on a promise, and don't abandon you when you need them. Bitter much, Lisa? Just a little bit, I guess. I'm 40 and single, the rules say I'm supposed to be a little pissy today.
So here they are, in no particular order, things besides my family and friends that are the loves of my life...
1. A letter in my mailbox. An honest-to-goodness, hand-written, fingerprints-on-the-page letter. It's hard not to devour it in the parking lot of the post office, but I like to wait until I'm in the quiet of my house to feel every word.
2. The way my down comforter feels when I first get into bed. How it settles around me, soft and cool. It just feels like sleep to me.
3. Moisturizer and lip balm. You know what I'm talking about girls, that feeling when you first put it on and your skin kind of just drinks it in. So good.
4. Condiment bowls. I have a thing about puddles of condiments on plates; it grosses me the hell out. Teeny tiny condiment bowls are the perfect solution, plus they are so stinking cute.
5. Lycra. I'm not talking about full on shiny biker shorts. Gross. I mean just a little bit in jeans and dresses and yoga pants. Just enough stretch to forgive that box of Valentine chocolate you just ate.
6. Yoga pants. Sweet sparkly baby, those are magical. Anyone who knew me during my youth knows I'm not a sweat pants sort of girl, I've actually never owned a pair. No judgement, just not my thing. Yoga pants are not sweat pants. See #4 for their magical properties. That wide band at the top is incapable of digging into one's tummy no matter how many carbs you eat.
7. DV mother futting Rs. How did we live before the DVR? I can watch one of my stories while recording another. And the damn thing is so smart it finds every episode of House of Lies and records all of them. I win at DVRing.
8. Being old enough to know that people are talking about me and not giving a damn, except to hope that what they are gossiping about is actually more interesting than my real life.
9. Along that whole maturity line, not being even the tiniest bit embarrassed to check out with only tampons, Midol and a Hershey's Bar.
10. Living alone. The three pairs of shoes currently piled near my front door bother no one. I always let myself know when I drink the last cup of coffee, finish the milk or use the last square of toilet paper.
11. The sound of the zipper on a suitcase. It doesn't matter if it's packing to leave or unpacking when you're finally home, it's a happy sound.
12. Watching a movie with Syd and her holding my hand so I won't be scared. Covering Delaney's eyes during Footloose (the original) because I forgot about the bare bottoms. Maddy's crazy curly hair.
13. The sound of Landon's feet flying through his house towards me when I open the front door and say hello. How he just jumps at me, no fear, trusting I'll catch him. When my big guy nephew Gavin asks me to come watch his ball games. He knows I won't cheer loudly and embarrass him. And I always think he's the star of his team, no matter what. (Of course his buddies the Jacks and Drew are too!)
14. Remembering how hard I worked in Mrs. McCrillis's third grade class to cover that shoe box with hearts and glitter to make it the perfect mailbox to hold all the corny kid Valentines from my classmates.
15. The curl by the side of my face that reminds me of my dad and now makes me think of my nieces.
16. Cleaning your house before leaving on vacation so when you return all road weary with a pile of laundry, it feels peaceful.
17. Shampoo that makes your hair smell like oranges.
18. Waking up in the middle of the night thinking it's almost morning and realizing you still have another five hours before your alarm screams at you.
19. Snow that melts off my drive before I have to leave in the morning.
20. The fact that Valentine's day, no matter how disappointing, is only one day and my list of loves can happen any day, any time.
How about you, you bitter old cynics? What are your loves, big and small? Here's hoping that there's at least a little bit of Fresh Hell on your list.
0 comments:
Post a Comment