I was never that girl that started planning her wedding at 12 or who envisioned having a husband and kids someday. I pictured a career and a big circle of friends and not much beyond that.
I was skittish of anything that smacked of commitment or longevity – really for no reason that I can pinpoint. My parents are two of the most in love people who still hold hands and sneak kisses. I had examples of wonderful people in wonderful relationships all around me. I just didn’t think it was for me.
On a Canyoneering Trip in Zion National Park – right before we rappelled down the cliff at our feet
Then Greg came along. He was savvy enough and patient enough to let me come to the realization that I was in love with him in my own sweet time. Smart, smart man. We were practically engaged before I ever once said “I love you.”
We’ve been together for almost 10 years now. The best Valentine’s gift I’ve ever received from this amazing man came in our second year or marriage.
We’d hit on what was the most stressful time of my life to date. It was January and my car broke down in a big and irreparable way. I was laid off from my job and then right on the heels of that, Greg was laid off from his job. I was lucky – I ended up with a very fair severance package. Greg, not so much. We suddenly went from living a very comfortable existence in our newly wed bliss phase to dealing with life in all its real glory.
I can’t lie, it was painful and I would not want to do it again. But in that vortex of crazy, we learned to really lean on each other.
Valentine’s Day hit just a couple of weeks after all those other hits. I wasn’t planning on doing anything major – we just didn’t have any money to spare. The day set aside for lovers was spent pounding the virtual pavement looking for a job.
Our first night in Paris together at Pont Neuf
I was sitting at home on the couch after a discouraging day and in walks Greg with a pizza. Not just any pizza, but a heart-shaped pepperoni pizza. He had spent just about his last dime to get me something for Valentine’s Day. It was nothing big or earth shattering or over the top. It was just a thoughtful gift from the heart that was unexpected and unwatched for. To date, it is still my favorite Valentine’s Day and one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for me.
Here are to many more adventures together, babe.
-Lydia, still very much in love with that guy I mostly hang out with
