Feb 14th, 2008
Special delivery
As I’ve mentioned before, Jan and I aren’t big on getting gifts for each for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. This is especially true of Valentine’s Day. Now, I appreciate having an occasion to tell people that you love them (but really, shouldn’t we do this every day?). But the gift aspect of this holiday drives me nuts. Especially the woman-focused gift aspect. Especially the idea that a man should read a woman’s mind and get her the “perfect” gift on this day. And especially the idea that the “perfect” gift is defined by roses, chocolate, and diamonds. (I really hate that sexist crap.)
So I was a little surprised when a FedEx driver left a rather large box on my doorstep yesterday afternoon. As soon as I saw it, I thought, “Hmmmm. I wonder what’s going on.”
(Note the toys under the piano. The collection includes sit-and-push-with-your-feet vehicles [car, tricycle, and bike] as well as two toy lawnmowers. We call that space “the garage.” The front hall, kitchen, dining room, and living room are all connected to each other, so Sylvia can ride/push one of those toys in a circle around most of our first floor. When her friends are over, there are enough wheeled items for everyone to get one, and it’s like a parade.)
I opened the box to discover a dozen beautiful roses in different colors.
(These flowers were sent direct from the grower in California. Each stem is stuck into a water-filled plastic test-tube with a rubber stopper at the top, and there’s one of the refreezable ice packs in the box. The arrived in perfect condition.)
Don’t they look lovely?
The card (handwritten!) was the best part: “For the three of us…because we rock!”
(After dinner last night, Sylvia got to choose any rose she wanted—she zeroed in on the one that looked most purple, of course—to have her own little vase.)
10 Responses to “Special delivery”
Beautiful roses. And I agree, you three do rock!
How sweet of Jan. Great family gift, especially because it was a surprise!
That’s awesome. My husband and I do a ritual exchange of chocolate on Valentine’s Day. No surprises, no disappointments and we get to eat fancy chocolate. Everybody wins!
what a lovely valentine’s story — as I feel the same way as you do about the holiday!
Aw, that’s so sweet!
Lovely. The flowers and the sentiment. Might have to steal the idea of flowers for the family!
Awwww. That’s really COOL! There’s something really wonderful about having about fresh flowers in one’s home. And yes, you three DO rock and deserve them! :-)
Thanks, everyone! :)
That’s really sweet and nice. I actually do like flowers — especially in bright colors.
I’m with you though on not wanting presents — I actually donated money to Heifer to buy a goat for Valentine’s Day. It is a gift that keeps on giving…
Those are very nice flowers, and I think it’s sweet that Sylvia got to pick one out too. Yes, there is definitely a sexist overtone to Valentine’s Day. I don’t see commercials pushing women to buy the best cordless drill for their man or anything.