These are a Few of My Favorite Things

I used to think Valentine's Day was for suckers. Four years ago, while living in Los Angeles a very different me had a lengthy argument with a fellow coffee shop-goer regarding the commercialism associated with this particular holiday. The consumerism plagued my sensibilities. This fabricated so-called-holiday was nothing but a bunch of Hallmark bullshit wrapped in a pretty package. It did nothing but make lovers feel inclined to buy and single people feel worthless. At least that's what I used to think...

Not that anybody asked but today really was one of the best Valentine's Days I've ever experienced. Wait--let me rephrase that; today was one of the best days of my life. It began with me waking up in bed only to find Zeus lying next to me with a heart-shaped "Post-It Note" attached to his fur. It simply read, "I love that you need '5 more minutes' anytime you wake up from sleep." This refers to the fact that regardless if it's a 10 hour night of sleep or a 10 minute nap, I always insist that five more minutes is absolutely necessary. As my own mother can attest to, this is something I've claimed since I was a child. Ahhh yes, my all-too famous line/whine, "just five more minutes."

It made my morning to find this lovingly lovely note from my lover attached to our little dog. Little did I know that throughout my daily routine I would find these notes posted everywhere. I could not help but go through my day being constantly reminded of just how well I am known by the man that I have devoted the rest of my life to. Further, not just how well I am known but how truly loved I am by him, in the deepest sense of the word. A couple of my favorite notes from the day...

• Attached to the the thermostat: "I love that you need the heat at a constant 73 degrees"
• Attached to the fry pans at work: "I love the way you can flip not only one, but two eggs without breaking a yolk"
• Inside the bag of groceries he bought for our dinner that was supposed to be a surprise: "I love that you have to peek"

I left work early to finish up some last minute to-do's only to come home to a house filled with even more notes. There were notes in the fridge, the bathroom, the guestroom, on the mantle, on my magazines, on the computer, the television, etc., etc. And he wasn't done there. When my beloved finally returned from work, he came home to make me a meal that served the purpose of reminding me just how fortunate, blessed, and LUCKY I am that I took the greatest risk of my life at the ripe age of 17 by telling my 18 year old best friend that I loved him more than a friend. We were in the garden of his neighbor's house. We were sharing a beer. I will never forget how he embraced me after this confession and kissed me on the forehead. He reassured me he loved me that night, "just not like that." It would take me another three months before I could convince him he was wrong.

On this Valentine's Day evening my valentine poured me a glass of wine and served me a meal combining the things he knows I love best...

• A high quality aged balsamic vinegar
• Oregon pinots
• Sweet potatoes
• Fresh pasta
• Goat's milk cheese
• Ice cream

A Meal for Lovers Brought to Me by Mine...

Crostini with roasted garlic, Redwood Hill's Crottin, and an aged balsamic reduction
Arugula Salad with Marcona Almonds, Tart Cranberries, and Shaved Manchego
Sweet Potato & Carrot Mash
Fresh Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Homemade Marinara
White-Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bomb

Really at this point I cannot help but feel like the words, "I love you" just don't cut it anymore. Evan, if this is a dream and I am sleeping please don't wake me up because I don't even think "five more minutes" will suffice. As I explained to you tonight, Forever doesn't seem long enough.