Some of you might remember that I was somewhat bitter on Valentine’s Day last year. And it was with very good reason. But I made the best of it with that yummy Carrot Ginger Soup and I got on with my life. Well, it turns out that I am alone once again this Valentine’s Day. *Sigh*
All of you military wives are nodding and thinking, “yep, been there, done that.” It’s just part of military life. But I really don’t care much about spending Valentine’s Day together. And no, I’m not just saying that because I’m sitting here alone at Starbucks. It’s enough for me to know that, even though he’s not in the same city as me right now, he’s not in Iraq.
You know, I loved valentine’s day when I was a kid. The week before the big day, we got to create our own valentine’s boxes and decorate them with brightly colored tissue paper and paper doilies. I can remember devoting an entire day to our creations. Then, on Valentine’s Day, we walked around and delivered valentines to all of our classmates. The elaborately decorated boxes were filled with little paper valentines from each of our classmates. Everyone felt special that day. It was a day about celebrating friendship and, of course, candy!
I want to feel that way again about Valentine’s Day.
I want to make cute little valentines for my friends. I want the thrill of receiving a valentine from that cute boy in the class that would otherwise never give me the time of day. Because it didn’t matter that classroom rules required that he give one to me (and every other girl and boy in the class) or that his mother probably forced him to sign his name. What mattered was that for one day, we all felt special.
Unfortunately it’s a little late for me to make those special little valentines for all of my friends this year, especially since they all live far far away. And the chances of me making some local friends by the end of the day are pretty slim thanks to my decidedly anti-social ways.
But, there’s always next year.
This year I think I’ll just treat myself to some homemade cookies and give some old friends a call.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! See, I do mean it. Treat yourself to something special and tell your friends you love them.
Happy Valentines Day Nicole! I sure do miss you!
12:37 pm Feb 14th, 2008Valentine’s day was definitely better when I was little and my dad would get my mom and I Valentine’s day flowers and chocolates… mom still gets them, but i don’t live at home so it’s nothing for me
Meh, I’ll bake myself something tasty.
12:38 pm Feb 14th, 2008Miss you too, Ruby. You’re one of the old friends on my ‘to call’ list
Are Steph and Chris there yet?
Brilynn: I’m sure whatever you bake will be fantastic as usual!
12:38 pm Feb 14th, 2008Those are my best memories of Valentine’s day too. Giving out Superfriend’s Valentines to all my grade school classmates. I still want to find those to send out to my friends. Someone must make retro valentine’s!
1:05 pm Feb 14th, 2008yes, eating cookies and calling old friends sounds like a pretty good day actually! happy valentine’s day to you.
1:33 pm Feb 14th, 2008Happy V-Day, Nicole! Beautiful photo, as usual.
1:34 pm Feb 14th, 2008Where we live in Mexico today is celebrated as Dia del Amistad, Friendship Day. We are having a special fish dinner with 5 very close friends, Mexicans and gringos, down by the shore at sunset. What better way to celebrate the joys and power of friendship and love?
1:52 pm Feb 14th, 2008Well I’m in a much better mood this year as well- last year my hubby was also in Iraq. I’m very much looking forward to spoiling the family by baking til they burst at the seams. From one anti-social military wife to another~ a VERY happy Valentine’s.
1:54 pm Feb 14th, 2008You have a super Valentine’s Day too, Nicole!
2:03 pm Feb 14th, 2008Hugs
Bron
Nicole, are you sure you’re it’s cool with sending out this Valentine’s wish to me in public and all?
Have a great day, sweetheart! lol
2:05 pm Feb 14th, 2008Happy Valentine’s Day, Nicole!
2:09 pm Feb 14th, 2008Hi Nicole! Thanks for dropping by. Happy Valentine’s Day!
2:11 pm Feb 14th, 2008Amy: I actually just searched for some superfriends valentine’s cards so I could send you the link if I found them. No luck
Happy valentine’s day!
Kickpleat: Yes, I think it will be a good day! Hope you have the same!
Jennifer: Thanks! The photo is an old one but I love it so I dug it up for this post
Susan: Sounds wonderful!
Tempered Woman: Happy baking! I’m trying to figure out what kind of cookies to make!
Bron: Thanks! Have a great day!
Peter: Hahaha! You have a great day, too!
Dani: Thanks!
Emon: Hope you have a great day!
2:48 pm Feb 14th, 2008Happy valentines day!!
2:51 pm Feb 14th, 2008Nicole, I am soooooo glad your husband isn’t in Iraq now. That alone is a lovely Valentine’s Day present to you, I know. Since you can’t be with him, your back-up plan sounds like an excellent one. Have fun in the kitchen!
2:54 pm Feb 14th, 2008New friends are only a traffic jam away! Happy Valentine’s Day, Nicole! Come play with the foodies in L.A.
3:48 pm Feb 14th, 2008At the rate you’re going, next year you’ll have a V-day with you hubby alone on a tropical island to make up for all the missed ones!
4:31 pm Feb 14th, 2008Well you may not be having the greatest Valentine’s Day, but just imagine spending it in the classroom with 28 third graders! Actually they weren’t too bad. But ALL-THAT-CANDY! It makes them completely crazy!
Great photo!
6:37 pm Feb 14th, 2008Happy V Day to you, too, Nicole. I used to not even pay attention to this day, but now I get to spend it with my wife, so it was a good day.
I was just talking to her about the candy hearts and corny cards in 3rd grade, too. At least everyone felt included.
7:11 pm Feb 14th, 2008Nicole,
6:46 am Feb 15th, 2008A further note on Valentine’s Day in Mexico. At our lovely dinner last night we were served a salad of diced jicama and tangerines with a light dusting of chili powder, a squeeze of lime and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro. I thought, “I’ve seen this salad somewhere before! Does the chef read Pinch My Salt?” There are inventive cooks everywhere!
Nicole,
6:48 am Feb 15th, 2008A further note on Valentine’s Day in Mexico. At our lovely dinner last night we were served a salad of diced jicama and tangerines with a light dusting of chili powder, a squeeze of lime and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro. I thought, “I’ve seen this salad somewhere before! Does the chef read Pinch My Salt?” There are inventive cooks everywhere, even in this seedy little seaside Mexican village!
Happy Belated Valentines day to you! I am not a military wife, but a wife of a sales guy, so him coming home at around 8pm last night with Take Out was all I needed. Hope your day was filled with warm cookies and great laughs, from old friends!
7:17 am Feb 15th, 2008Happy Belated Valentine’s Day, Nicole! I hope those homemade cookies turned out fabulously. I have to agree with Leah’s comment above that there’s plenty of foodies around here that would love to hang out and share a meal with you. While I have yet to meet the SDChow group, they sound like a lot of fun and, if you’d like, I could pass along the info on how to join the list (that is, if you haven’t already :)). Did you have a chance to talk to your husband yesterday? Hope he had a happy and safe V-Day, too!
Take care! Happy Friday and a great long weekend to you!
9:36 am Feb 15th, 2008Hope you had a great day.
7:26 pm Feb 15th, 2008Happy belated Valentine’s Day!! I do hope that this year’s holiday was enjoyable for you - hang in there!!
8:40 am Feb 16th, 2008I definitely know what you mean by bitter V-day. It’s not really a holiday I have put a whole lot of stock in in the past, but the holiday is much more challenging to get to when your fiance is in Iraq. The present he sent was great, but I’d much rather have him home :(. I’m looking forward to next year!
5:10 am Feb 20th, 2008Nicolio, you know we would have exchanged gifts with you for V-Day. Did you ever get our gmail email? Take care.
12:11 am Feb 23rd, 2008homemade cookies yes please
4:53 am Mar 4th, 2008a recipe for that next! pretty please