Firstly, let me wish everyone a happy Valentine’s day, (Before you say it, yes, I know there’s those of you out there who, rightly or wrongly, believe it to be an over-commercialised, made-up sort of day in order to part folks with their hard earned cash.) I understand this and believe there’s some merit in it. But just take a moment if you will. In these times of harshness, cold hard cruelty, political unrest, strikes, death, and destruction, let’s add a little softness, romance, beauty and (dare I actually say it) love, not only for this of all days, but as a beginning of a new paradigm. ❤
You must all know by now mine and Jesse’s story… how we met fell in love and decided, despite or is it in spite of, all the daily hardships, including distance, just trying to hold on to something so beautiful yet also so very fragile as is love. In reality it’s like trying to hold a butterfly in your hand. You can, but if you’re not careful you could also crush the very thing you’re trying so hard to protect. It’s been five long tortuous years with only the briefest oasis of three months together. This is all we have to cement our love, the glue that holds together the very foundations and our future. Each day apart is like its predecessor, too long, too cold, too hard and vastly unfair.
But amongst all this angst and turmoil, there’s moments we wouldn’t change for the world… moments of sheer joy, gratitude and love. We truly are a couple of children – our jokes awful, mischievous in every sense – but there are very few days in which laughter doesn’t fill these separate houses we dwell in. And not only laughter… we plot and we scheme to bring about an element of surprise into each other’s lives. It’s not always easy while you’re on the phone with each other 24/7/365, but even with this challenge, we manage, and do a grand job.
Sunday.
Sunday has never been a favourite day of mine, actually! The other days of the week are okay in themselves, I suppose, but it seems to me that Sundays seem to drag? Plus, any issues either I’ve had or problems both myself and Jesse have encountered have always been on a Sunday. Not sure whether it’s coincidental or just is. This Sunday though I awoke very early, set about my day while my love slept on. (Time differences will, of course, do this.) 😁 I’m so, so bored that I have found myself making up jobs for myself to do, creating a mess in order to have something to tidy again later, washing on, kitchen clean, hoovering done. I’m now at a loose end. I bodge up a crossword. You’d be surprised what words you can cram into those small grids, some your mother would, I dare say, not approve of either… most especially on the Sabbath. (Have you ever played swear word Crossword? 😈 Kind of like swear word Scramble, just with a grid. I blush when I say I excel at both these.) This done and after watching a cute little film on prime, I set about finding more chores for my idle hands to do. (Never easy in a flat the size of a small shoe box.) I had thought about knocking on a few neighbour’s doors to see if they would like assistance with their housework but wasn’t sure this would be quite welcomed in the spirit with which it was offered though so I thought better of it and settled for cleaning the kitchen floor.
Soon after I had stepped away from the soapy clothes-scrubbing implements of torture, Jesse woke up, not sure if it was from enough sleep or my ear splitting rendition of Hallelujah. 😁 We made our coffee and sit chatting for an hour together which is usual for our split time zone routine…I filled him in with my day, floor scrubbing included. (Such excitement you’re thinking) 😁 After this brief moment of calm, in what is otherwise madness, we go about the rest of the day. Sometime later though while I’m deeply ensconced in a game of online Ludo, my love’s voice pipes up from cosy confines of phoneland: “Honey, I’ve bought you a nice extended handled brush and dustpan from Amazon, so you don’t have to bend down while sweeping” Aw-w-w-w-w. I thought it so thoughtful. Jesse went on to say “Happy Valentine’s Honey” Again I know what you’re thinking here ladies! But Jesse knows me too well and what’s not to love about a dustpan and brush? At least it wasn’t pink, right? Plus. with my back issues as they are, it is an exceptionally thoughtful gift. Gotta love him. ❤ He went on with needless explanations about how normally he wouldn’t buy me domestic items for Valentine’s, birthdays etc, but there was a need, and I agreed wholeheartedly.
Yesterday, being the big day itself, I had made plans for a small walk in the morning just to get some air while Jesse slept. As I readied myself doing my checking to ensure I have the necessary accoutrements, then the re-checking of phones, keys, etc., before actually going, a car pulls up outside my flat. Strange, I thought. 🤔 But thinking it was for my neighbours, I carry on getting ready. Just as I’ve finally done my third check around the flat (😁) pulled on my dreaded shoes and socks (hate anything on my feet) I’m ready to go. I just make it to the door as my doorbell goes. Sigh.
Upon opening the front door there’s a young girl stood with a package and balloons in her hand, behind this youngster stood a lady. In her arms is the most resplendent bouquet of flowers! Both of these ladies have beautiful big grins spread across their lovely faces, obviously loving every second of their jobs. Even though I know Jesse as I do, it’s still always the most wonderful surprise to receive these gorgeous floral arrangements, it never fails to make me dumbfounded, or overwhelmed. I stand quietly for one of the few times in my life, for these flowers touch deep within my heart just the same as the very first offering of twelve long stemmed red roses at Christmas five years previously. Never having received flowers from a man before, I had buckled and sobbed. The flowers yesterday did much the same. I took them silently, overwhelmed at such a gift. There was a card, balloons, and last but by no means least, a Cake. I am indeed most spoilt, still lost for words, I finally managed to thank both the ladies before I, in somewhat of a daze, shut the door.
Jesse was half asleep still, but, even so, knew who the callers of course were. I sank down onto my sofa, opened the beautiful heart shaped card, read the thoughtful verse my love had dictated within. After all this time things like this still knock me off my feet. It’s also one of the few times I’m in silence. I’m convinced this, besides the fact Jesse is a romantic, is the reason behind the offering. 😁
The cake.
The bouquet is from our most favourite of florists, who is no longer in truth just a flower seller in a small town…Emma has, in fact, become more like a friend. The flowers are of the very best quality, stunningly arranged, and last normally over a week. The card is equally as well thought out, always home made for that very personal touch one comes to expect from Emma and the Finishing Touches family. But then, add to this the most exquisite, sumptuous piece of confectionery perfection in a heart shaped cake, the whole gift ensemble is one that really is more than anyone could have asked for, leaving the giver a most amazing fiancé and the giftee feeling more special than she has in a lifetime. I cannot thank our messenger of love, Emma, enough for all her creative hard work or my love for such a well-planned-out and most thoughtful gift, especially the cake. How well this man knows me, because he knows my one true weakness has to be cake. 🎂 Thank you once again, my love.
I hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday. Take care of yourselves out there. I’m now off to get a slice of that gorgeous cake. 💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛🎂🎂💛🎂💛🎂💛
My American Man In Purple Lace Corsets 