So, today is Valentine's Day, it is Monday also and we have to work! My wonderful Valentine, my husband Chris of course, planned our celebration of this day for Sunday.
We woke early and were on the road by 7am, with our first stop at Starbucks for coffee. And then we headed to Manhattan....the little apple, that is. So what is so romantic about a 3 hour trip west to Manhattan, KS?? I am so glad you asked. This is possibly the most important thing I have learned in my marriage.
My husband is not an outwardly romantic guy, but when he wants to, he can knock my socks off. A nice dinner, a diamond necklace, a tennis bracelet, crystal glasses, or a big red heart of chocolates, these are just a few of the ways my husband has surprised me over the years. I never know when it will happen and I don't expect it all the time. Currently, we are in the process of possibly remodeling our kitchen; this is a HUGE deal and I am still thinking it may not happen, but he is thinking about it and crunching numbers, that means the world to me because I really hate my kitchen right now. Chris even decided we needed to go the remodeling show in order to talk to people about different things. This may not seem like a big deal to you but my husband hates to spend money on these types of things so for him to suggest it, well you can just imaging my JOY!!
So what does all of that have to do with Valentine's day and Manhattan, KS?? http://www.geocaching.com/
You have to click on the above link to get a full picture of what this trip was all about. Chris discovered geo-caching about 3 years ago when we spent the summer in Colorado. He investigated it and decided it sounded like something fun to do. We purchased a cheap little handheld GPS device and we were off and running. Little did I know at that time that this hobby would dictate many of our trips in the years to come. I am not going to explain all that is involved with geo-caching here because it takes too long, click on the link or go to wikipedia(it has the answers for everything). Over the past 3 years we have made special trips in order to complete challenges or to check off another state for a found cache. It is a great hobby for Chris because it gets him outside, wandering around and taking hikes through the woods. It has given him something to do while he is traveling, instead of sitting in a hotel room after a long day of work. He has found caches in Seoul, South Korea and in Frankfurt, Germany. I'm not sure of his total state count but there are quite a few up to now.
Yesterday was one of those days, it was a beautiful day out, warm for February and a wonderful day to be together. We love to take little day trips, traveling together, talking or not, listening to Dan Fogelberg or NPR. We love to be together enjoying each other. So the geocaching is more his hobby than mine, but because I would rather be with him than not, I go along on some of his longer hunts. There were some special caches to be found in and on the way to Manhattan so that was the goal for the day. A lot of the caches require a long walk on a trail, or a hike up a steep hill or down the side of a hill. So the beauty of those are the walk outside enjoying the day. Like I said earlier, yesterday was beautiful, it was warm enough to be without a coat!! The main problem for me was the mud, after all the snow we have experienced this winter and the warmness of the past few days, there was a lot of mud out there. Chris had forgotten to put my hiking boots in the car and my Keens are not the best in the mud. I did a couple of the hikes, but toward the end of the day I chose to stay in car and read. This is good with me, I love to read and Kindle holds as many books as I will need for just such and occasion.
So what is in it for me?? I get to be with Chris all day long, I get to be outside (if I choose to be) and I got a really nice lunch in Manhattan. Chris did some research to find a nice place for us to have a nice meal for our Valentine's Day celebration. It was a little Italian Bistro with a limited menu, but we saw the chef/owner and the food was delicious. It was a perfect meal with my husband.
So what I have learned over the years of our marriage is that romance takes many forms. Romance in the time you invest in the one you love the most. Going along with him as he enjoys his hobby is romantic. Letting him pick a wonderful place to eat is romantic. And just being in the same space with one another is VERY romantic. And as long as I get to spend the day with my husband doing whatever I am a very happy and fulfilled woman.
You may have to alter your view of romance and take the pressure off it. It may not be what you have learned over the years but in the end it is probably so much better.
Have a very Happy Valentine's Day and tell the one you love that you love him or her.
