A Post in Lieu of Presents

Oh, dear.

It just never occurred to me that we would be "doing" Valentine's Day this year.  Not that we here at the Lewis household aren't crazy in love, but it's just an odd time.  I've started a new job, but haven't gotten paid yet, so funds are, shall we say  . . . lowish.  I'm taking a writing class that meets on Tuesday nights and the big day just happens to fall on Tuesday this year.  And a few years ago, after a particularly not good Valentine's restaurant experience, we have been staying home and cooking a nice dinner instead.

Imagine my surprise when my Valentine announced that he had made as-yet-unrevealed dinner plans for us, and I think there might be a present involved.

I've spent the day wracking my brain, trying to think of a way to come up with a present. I did a lot of handmade stuff for Todd for Christmas, so I'm a bit tapped out of ideas.  And I just can't bear to subject the poor guy to homemade granola bars for Valentine's Day AGAIN.  (Yeah, I may have done that one more than once.)

I was going to crochet a hat, because crocheting is so fast, but a couple of hours into it I realized what I had forgotten -- I suck at crocheting hats.  I don't know what it is, but there's some mental block that I have.  They always turn out looking not quite like hats.  So I abandoned that and moved on to thinking of presents I can pay for without a paycheck.  I thought about getting some nice locally roasted coffee beans and maybe some cool candy bars from Trader Joe's.  OR, maybe a cool new beer, or a magazine subscription to one of those outdoorsy magazines he likes.  So I dash out to the car for a whirlwind shopping trip, and . . . the car won't start.  Like, at all.

Now here I am, grounded for the day, with no Valentine's present for my sweetie.  Not even a card.  And here's the thing:  my sweetie is AWESOME.  He makes me laugh.  He's smarter than anyone I've ever met.  He's my fiercest advocate and my very, very best friend.  He totally deserves a present.

In writing class, I've been working on a poem, and I don't think it's very good.  The trouble with my awesome sweetie is, he's too awesome to put into a poem.  But that's all I have today, just one little substandard poem.

About You


I tried to write a poem about you
But I wrote about the wind and its cooling breeze, its whispers that drift through my hair,
And frigid gusts that nearly knock me over.


I wanted to write about you
But kept thinking of the ocean, the dark depths that frighten me, waves that carry me,
Soft tickles that caress my sandy toes.


I meant to write about you
But the sun was insistent, so I wrote its blinding brightness, its scalding heat,
And its kiss on my summer skin.


I wanted to write you, but I wrote this --
This poem that I wrote when I tried to write a poem about you.

Happy Valentine's Day, Todd.