The Best Gift Ever
Saturday was Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is often a challenging event for someone at my stage of life. I have referred to it in the past as “Enigma Day” due to the puzzling nature and the difficulty in understanding how to react to its expectations when you have been together for 25 or 30 years.
This year, Kim and I were able to get away for a few days, prompted by a meeting Kim had to attend in Richmond on the Thursday before Valentine’s Day. We looked at it as a good excuse to extend our time in the Richmond and Charlottesville area over a long weekend.
On the drive down to Richmond on Wednesday, Kim admitted she had not bought me card.
There it was, that acknowledgment that Valentine’s Day was just another day at this point in our relationship, though okay, I have learned that sometimes, that can come back to bite you.
Every day in our relationship was Valentine’s Day.
So, I, too, confirmed that I had not purchased her a card either.
Now, without any expectations, we could enjoy the weekend without any guilt.
That said, however, while Kim was at her meeting on Thursday and I was out and about, I decided to go into the local Kroger’s and I purchased her a card to surprise her.
I picked one out that was kind of lighthearted and humorous, nothing too heavy and romantic. Then I turned to glance at the Valentine’s Day gifts that were on display behind me.
And there it was.
The perfect Valentine’s Day gift.
The one that screams, “I love you and will love you forever!”
The one that immediately drew me towards it, knowing that Kim would love and cherish it.
No sir, I was not leaving the store without this gift.
Fate brought me to this place, and it was meant to be.
So, I grabbed it.
It was the last one.
Not surprised, I thought, as I headed for the self-checkout lines, gloating over the fact that I was the last lucky bastard to be able to gift one of these to his wife.
It was…
“The Valentine’s Day Three Piece Oven Mitt and Spatula Set.”
That’s right, you read it.
“The Valentine’s Day Three Piece Oven Mitt and Spatula Set.”
Once back at the car, I cleverly hid my “Valentine’s Day Three Piece Oven Mitt and Spatula Set” in the bottom of a spare duffle bag I had brought to pack some extra sweatshirts.
Then, since it was only Thursday, February 12, I had to hide my excitement and wait for Saturday to arrive.
Now it’s Monday, Presidents Day, and we are back home. Kim had to go to work.
Needless to say, Kim loved her card and her “Valentine’s Day Three Piece Oven Mitt and Spatula Set.”
Sadly, I suppose I could lament that my luck ended in the aisle of the Kroger’s store, but still we had a very nice weekend.
But that’s not really true.
The luck part.
Kim’s mom used to tease Kim that she got lucky when we got together.
Of course, I used to counter that it was me who got lucky finding Kim.
Maybe more true is that we both got lucky many years ago.
But I don’t really think luck had anything to do with it.
Hey, anytime a guy can get away with gifting his wife a “Valentine’s Day Three Piece Oven Mitt and Spatula Set” after all these years, I suppose it truly does scream forever.
Fate brought us to this place; it was meant to be.
The best gift ever.