This photo was taken yesterday, on Valentine's Day. I've never been a fan of Valentine's Day. But I've been in a relationship for 5 years, so I can say I hate Valentine's Day without people assuming I'm sad and lonely. On our first V-Day, Andrew took me to see Phantom of the Opera. On our second Valentine's Day, I took him on a helicopter ride. Then I had a talk with him and eliminated the need to keep "outdoing" the year before. We don't constantly have to be planning big, elaborate, "romantic" events. I'm good to just chill. So that's pretty much what we've been doing ever since.
A couple weeks ago, Andrew had a brilliant idea: why don't we go laser tagging for Valentine's Day? I loved the idea. So that was the plan and I'd been looking forward to it ever since. We agreed no gifts, no elaborate dinner, he even asked if it was ok if he didn't get me flowers, so that I wouldn't have to carry them on the subway. I was hoping he wouldn't get me flowers, so I was totally fine with that.
As it turns out, laser tag is not high on the list of popular Valentine's Day activities. I thought there would at least be some lonely high school boys there, but we were literally the only ones in the place and they wouldn't let us play by ourselves. We were very very disappointed. We hung around the arcade for awhile, hoping someone else would show up, but no one did. We spent $8, played Guitar Hero and Skee-Ball, earned 60 tickets and got about 7 Tootsie Rolls for them.
It wasn't the Valentine's Day we planned, but I really enjoyed it. We had a great meal, and I was reaffirmed in my belief that, at least for Andrew and I, the comfortable relationship is better. Sure, romantic candlelit dinners are great. But so much pressure! I'm lazy--sometimes I just don't feel like getting all dressed up and going out somewhere and sitting in a restaurant with a million other couples and feeling judged, compared based on the level of "romance" happening at our table. That's not my scene. My scene is hanging at Ruby Tuesdays, having political discussions, arguing issues of the law (a new thing for me) and being comfortable enough to let my significant other know that if I eat another bite of shrimp fondue, I will puke in the laser tag arena. That's a great night to me.
Others might judge. But if I was wearing heels in some candlelit restaurant, drinking wine, I'd just be thinking about how much this guy doesn't know what I want. And Andrew obviously does, because here is a little excerpt of our night:
After I'm settled in Andrew's car:
Andrew: So, I got you a little something
Me: WHAT?!! You TURD! We said we weren't doing that!
Andrew hands me a small heavy bag.
Me: I can't believe this! If this is anything other than food, I'm going to be pissed.
I open the bag to find Dove chocolates, purple Skittles and a caramel Cadbury bar
Me: Ohmygod THANK YOU!!!!!!
Yeah, I yelled at my boyfriend for getting me a Valentine's Day present, said I be pissed if it wasn't food--and he knew enough about me to get me food.
So that made me happy, so I took the snapshot above.
Even though I'm not a proponent of Valentine's Day, I hope you all had lovely ones, and fully enjoyed today which is the fourth-best day of the year, because now VALENTINE'S DAY CANDY IS 75% OFF!!! Right behind November 1, when those huge bags of tiny Milk-Dud boxes go on sale, the day after Easter when you get chocolate bunnies and malted milk ball eggs and July 24th.
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