Every year on Valentine’s Day, I write the same blog post. I use different words, but relay the same sentiment. Bill and I don’t gift a hoot about Valentine’s Day. We don’t exchange Valentine’s Day gifts. Actually, as an aside, it appears that Valentine’s gifts are kind of one-sided — boy to girl. I don’t know how same-sex couples handle it, but probably a little fairer. Anyhoo, usually we get each other cards, but we didn’t even do that this year. We’re simply too busy trying to keep from losing our minds because LIFE.

One successful gift that Bill has given me on Days past is a box of chocolates. I will admit that I am a sucker for a box of chocolates. I love the mystery of not knowing what you’re going to get. A couple of years, he got me such a big box of chocolates that it took more than our typical single day to finish it!

The day before Valentine’s Day, I was checking the activities calendar for the afternoon.

“Hey look!” I said to my husband, who was — shockingly — working on his drone. “They’re selling flowers and candy in the Treasure Chest store downstairs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

We both looked at the clock, which said 1:46. He made a motion indicating he was trying to stand up and get his mind on hearts instead of drones.

“Settle down,” I told him. “I don’t need a Valentine’s gift.”

He sighed with relief.

Still, yesterday afternoon, following yet another doctor’s visit, we stopped at Ace Hardware. I stayed in the car while he went in to buy whatever piece of hardware he needed. He came out with a fairly sizeable bag. When he got into the car, he pulled out a 500-piece Springbok puzzle.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Dear,” he said.

He could not have given me a better present. I love puzzles. To have a brand new puzzle still wrapped in cellophane made by my favorite puzzle maker made me feel like Princess Kate (who likely doesn’t work on puzzles, what with three small kids and all). I was a happy camper.

By the way, just to spoil any loving feelings you have for the holiday’s patron saint — St. Valentine — here is a current photo of him at some small church in Italy…..

It’s the flowers that make him special. Happy belated Valentine’s Day.