Muscatine

You have to understand Tina is on the road a lot for her job.  It  happened once she left early on a Mon. morn and return Fri. night.  Most time it is just two or three nights she is gone.  Well one of these times I got stuff together and had the van packed.  She got home and I told her to get into the van.

"I've just been driving home for 7 hours, I don't want to go anywhere."

I got her in the van and took her down to the Lady Luck Hotel in Bettendorf. (This is when we were living in Clinton)  I had a room booked and finally got all the stuff to the room.  I told her she looked tired and to go in and take a shower and it would freshen her up and make her feel better.  She did and I started unpacking.  I put candles all around the room and lit them, I had fresh flowers and I had packed a "picnic" style meal.  Wine, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, chocolate dipped strawberries, cookies and candy.  She came out of the shower and started crying. 

"This is so sweet, I've had a long, tiring, week and for you to think to do this."

We ate and snuggled and chatted and, well, yes, we both had happy endings.  It was a really beautiful evening.

My thing is I love to surprise Tina.  I love planning, conniving, and working to surprise her.  For our first wedding anniversary I surprised her with a trip to Las Vegas.  She didn't know where we were going till we got to the ticket counter at the airport.  One year she had to teach in Omaha on her birthday.  It was on a Thursday I think.  I arranged with Dad to watch the store on Thurs. afternoon, and open up on Fri morn, and I drove to Omaha to spend it with her on her birthday.  I waited in the parking lot of her hotel till I saw her pull in and surprised her.  I had a birthday present for her and everything.  We went out for ice cream and she was so impressed I would drive that far just so she wouldn't have to be alone on her b-day.  She was surprised.

Next month is her birthday again and I have a doosy planned for her this year.  I'd tell you about it, but one of you blabbermouths would tell her.  It's a surprise.

I can't top this, Jeff - it's beautiful.  I've been thinking about your challenge for a while now.  There have been a few beautiful, romantic stories like this...but the one that is my #1 memory of nearly 30 years of marriage is this...

It was deep winter, we had 2 vehicles.  One of them worked, one of them was on again/ off again.  It always started, but as you drove it, it would choke...it took an act of god to keep it running & many times you'd have to really work to get it going again.  We had taken said vehicle to a mechanic many times to have it checked; the dang thing was always good when they had it!  Since I did daycare & my husband's job was the "breadwinner", the dud was mine.  It was a ROYAL PAIN IN THE A@#!

I had 6 children I took care of during the day.  Many of them needed to be dropped off at school & preschool & then picked up again.  There were many days it was quite a challenge.  I never complained, you live with what life deals you.

  We had a cold front & a lot of snow.  I knew that getting the children where they needed to be was going to be a challenge... again, life is what it is. I knew I'd need to get the kids going a little earlier than usual.  My husband worked a very early shift.  He got up & went to work.

I got up a little earlier than usual...took care of the children & had them ready, (a bit early, just in case of difficulties)... and singing our morning song, walked out the front door.  To my suprise, the "good vehicle" sat there waiting for us...all cleaned off!  My precious husband had taken the dud of a car, risking being late to work so I'd have an easier day of it. 

This happened over 20 years ago.  To this day, I absolutely, positively know that this is what TRUE LOVE is.  He was & continues to be my hero to this day.  He's not a romantic person; he's not very demonstrative with words.  But he shows me; in this way what I mean to him...Nearly 30 years with this beautiful man.  No candles or flowers, etc.  LOL!  Love... I get it & it's enough!

Oh how little rest we get at this juncture in our lives. They always talked about how great those "golden years are going to be," but I just have to say, it's a special kind of hell/joy at times, this growing old. But what does soften those blows? Is reading such warm and sweet stories of folks tender and togetherness, sharing these memories with you all.

It's a holiday to remember and reward each other's passions and devotion, and for me that's exactly what it is. I still have those dozens of dear hand-made cut-outs the children lovingly made us long ago though it seems like yesterday. Hand made with joy and a surprising amount of skill, glittered with pride, glued and taped with love. Our babies and mates do so much for us throughout our lives, it's a wonder we can remember them all. But the constant roiling of time gives us new and ever imaginative generations of creative minds and hearts that keep delivering us this constant cycle of loving and devoted memories that fulfill these needs of personal histories. I would like to thank the designer of this idea, it's a pleasent distraction from any political heat and personal goal-tendng seen recently.  

God Bless.

"...it's a pleasent distraction from any political heat and personal goal-tendng seen recently."

Duly noted...however, it is also noted that it started with the "absence" of the chosen one. There have even been civil political discussions since. Speaks volumes to me. Happy VD anyway.