The "Been-Dating-So-Long-They-Might-As-Well-Be-Married" Woman
This is the time when long-awaiting doe-eyed women secretly plot their way to convince their otherwise happily single beau to get on bended knee. Those that try that route, as usual, will fail and call their friends to complain, yet again, why their boyfriend of ten-years "uses and abuses them." (Don't fall for that trap - listen and nod, they are not leaving him)The "Happy-to-be-Single" Woman
The single ladies - sans a man in their life - who will refute any and all Valentines Day celebrations. They will roll their eyes when the flowers start arriving at their coworkers desk and dish-out the proverbial "I-don't-need-a-man-to-be-happy" snark.
They might make plans with their other single friends to, ahem, celebrate themselves. But if things are still the same as before I met my now hubby, those evenings turn out to be a headache when scheduled in public. Why? Well, eventually one, or two, in the group will decide that "they need to find a man," that night! So much for girls night out.The Dating and Soon-to-Engaged Woman
There are women that find out, that an otherwise simple dinner out, or being involved in a round-about evening, will receive a proposal that will make them cry tears of joy.
These women will be happy, giddy actually, and will not be able to wait and Instagram a photo of their ring, call their parents, and of course, call their best friend - before they change their Facebook status.The Newlywed Woman - Disclaimer: That was me last year
If you thought expectations were high when dating, you have no idea what it's like to anticipate the first year of this God-forsaken-Hallmark-created-Holiday. Mostly because, well, everyone - and I mean everyone - will remind you how your first Valentines will set the mood for the rest of your Valentines Day's of your entire wedded life together. (Don't fret if you are a movie start or some sort of pseudo celeb - you only have one of these Holidays to remember, if that!).
But nothing is perfect - especially not the first year of marriage (in my case, I had only been married four months!)
My now hubby and me on our second date - at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, November 2007
This is my story:Being that my hubby works some nights (Thank you Hollywood Studios), it was of course, our luck that he had to work an 11 a.m. to midnight shift on the actual date. So of course, I pouted and whined starting on the day after my birthday (February 3rd), until he caved in and planned an entire day (yes sir-e, I didn't just want dinner!) the weekend before the 14th.
Surprisingly, it wasn't a romantic drive-up-the-coast-and-sip-wine-and-feed-each-other-grapes-kinda-holiday, it was simple - at least for us.
But I had bigger plans (insert me making a whimsical "aha" face) and planned to make lobster ravioli -from scratch! As in rolling out the dough, cutting the squares, making the filling, cooking the ravioli and making the sauce - of course.
It was my way of showing my hubby how much I loved him: by cooking his Italian grandmothers family recipe.
To say it was a chore is to underplay the strenuous and messy chore it is to make ravioli dough from scratch - not to mention the various steps that would end up creating heart-shaped lobster-filled ravioli (I am ambitious!).
Finishing the ravioli with only minutes before my hubby drived up our home, I had just enough time to straighten my heat-induced hair kinks and remove my apron. The kitchen, unfortunately, looked like a scene out of Hell's Kitchen.
When my hubby walked in the door I wanted to recreate one of those romantic scenes straight out of a Lifetime Movie. What happened, instead, was Chatito barking in a pleading to take him outside, while my once clean outfit, had flour on my backside (sorry, but I don't have a mirror on my butt!). My hubby, of course, noticed it, as I ran behind Chatito to settle him a bit.
My hubby, turns out, had a later dinner at work and couldn't eat more than a couple of ravioli hearts while standing in the kitchen with me.
No wine. No romantic candle lit diner spread. We fell asleep on the couch, while still dressed.
This wasn't the Valentines celebration I had planned.
The next day we reheated left-over ravioli, changed the sauce and ate it - on our couch. Sitting next to Chatito, In our PJ's.But then again, isn't life exactly like this: a series of unpredictable events that intertwined and make up this thing we call life?
Here's to your unpredictable and happy Valentines Day - because remember, it's not about the person sitting next to us, it's about the love that surrounds us.
Love and continued happiness -
