Happy Valentine's Day ~ Whew, Almost Missed It!

     So I wake up this morning, fumble downstairs to the kitchen, and there...on the table...are two card envelopes with my name on them.  Hmmmmm, I'm wondering what I did lately to deserve such a wonderful thing to wake up to.  As I stretched my neck over to look at the calendar I heard, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mom!"  In my mind I did a head smack and gave myself the "L" looser sign.  I could have sworn Valentine's Day was coming up on Monday.  I have never until today forgotten about or mixed up Valentine's Day with another holiday.  I still can't believe I did it, but I did...and now that you know, you are to keep this tidbit of information to yourself.
     I don't know ~ maybe it's the head cold I've been dealing with, along with the Benadryl haze I've been waking up to in the morning.  Maybe it was thinking about the foot funk I had to take Kid to the doctor for this morning.  Who knows.  I forgot.  Did I let them know I forgot, though?  No way.  I opened my cards graciously and told them I had planned on giving them their stuff at dinner.  I know, good save.  Sometimes I work well under pressure.  Hon then said he was going to take me out to dinner this evening, so I just needed to have dinner for the kids.  
     Here's the thing, when we were at the grocery to pick up Kid's prescription after that doctor appointment, as we were sitting in the van eating lunch while we waited for it, there were a whole bunch of men walking out of there with flowers, cards, and candy.  To the point where Kid had actually remarked on it, saying, "Gee, Mom, there sure are a lot of guys buying stuff for today."  My remark was, "Bet they forgot," as I smiled and kept eating.  When my internal buzzer went off that the prescription should be ready I opted to go into the store while Kid hung back to finish eating, instead of the walk-up window, because I had to join the ranks of men that forgot about the day and buy my sweethearts something for Valentine's Day.  It was either that or fess up that I forgot.  I swear I was the only woman in that special Valentine's Day aisle.  Really.  I snatched up some little heart shaped chocolate boxes (slim pickins), a card for Hon (slimmer pickens), paid, and did the walk of shame out of the store with the rest of the forgetters.  Even so, Kid had no idea (hehehe).
     This afternoon when it was time to get dinner ready for the boys, because spray whipped cream and sprinkles are a staple here, I decided it was breakfast for dinner day, and made them French toast.  There's a picture of it up there.  I even made the sausage patties into little heart shapes.  I set out their dinner, along with their candy boxes, and they were happy.  I also set out a box of candy and a card for Hon.  Can't leave my Hon out, you know.
     This evening when Hon got home he took me out to dinner.  Gesh, everyone and their mother was either out to celebrate Valentine's Day, whether they forgot it to begin with and were redeeming themselves, or made reservations.  Hon took me to the Old Canal Smokehouse in Chillicothe.  If you haven't been there, you need to go.  We didn't even have a reservation and they took us pretty quick.  Must be because so many folks were at all the chain restaurants waiting over an hour for a seat.  So, as Hon and I were sitting at our table, enjoying our beer, eating our dinner, he said he had a meeting this afternoon and the person he was meeting with wanted to meet a bit earlier because he had to leave early.  When I asked why, he said because the man forgot about it being Valentine's Day and had to get a card.  Hon suggested he get flowers, too...since he forgot.  (Notice I'm not mentioning this person's name for the sake of them not getting themselves in trouble with their wife.)  After Hon told me why he had to leave early, I just laughed and let it go, opting to focus on my food.  You know, because I forgot about it being Valentine's Day, but the family doesn't know that, and you're good at keeping a secret.  
     So, there you have it folks.  I forgot...but I think I had a nice save.  Oh, and as for that dinner at the Old Canal Smokehouse, they had a nice dessert on the house for everyone.  We were waiting for our bill and next thing we knew we had a piece of pound cake in a glass with strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle set in front of us to share.  It was hard to do, being as I was so full, but I found room to share that wonderful dessert with my soul mate.  Smiling & Waving, Sharon 
     

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