Valentine hangover

Yesterday I experienced the best Valentine's day ever. This is what happened...

At about 2:00pm the love of my life and my best friend brought me a bouquet of tulips (my favorite flower). They're beautiful. Everytime I see them out of the corner of my eye or straight on they make me happy. Who knows why, they just do. Tulips mean spring has sprung. They exemplify newness and freshness and beginnings and hope sprung eternal. And they are very happy flowers. Add to that the fact that he remembered they're my favorite and today I am experiencing joy, hope and love. It doesn't get any better than that. Except...

Geof informed me he was cooking. Now that is good. I love that!! He got home around 6 after grocery shopping!!! And proceeded to put together the most fantastic meal of grilled ribeye steaks, sauteed mushrooms, wild rice and salad served with a lovely mellow red. Now here's the good part. While he was cooking, he and the 13 year old, Max (teen in training to be a most excellent husband for some very blessed young lady someday) set a table for two with candles and our finest fiesta ware up on the balcony overlooking the lights reflecting on the lake. Here's the fun part. Max really got into it. He put on a starched white shirt and became the waiter. He was precious and very helpful. I sat by and observed as I did the day's crossword puzzle. Am I blessed or what?? Geof and I were both thoroughly enchanted when we came downstairs and found Max in the living room, in the dark eating his dinner in front of the tv by candlelight, too. What a great kid. Oh yeah, he gets it. And then! Geof cleaned up! Well, after we ate the cherry pie I made FROM SCRATCH - crust and all - for his valentine surprise. (oh and I wrote him a poem too). All in all a grand and glorious day for the Gilberts. We are very blessed.

And yet, looming always in my mind, are thoughts of Jennifer and Bret. May they know peace and love and hope today.