The Morning Kiss: An "Every Day" Valentine's Day Gift

Soon cupid's arrows will be flying again and all married men will be scratching their heads trying to come up with ideas to celebrate a day dedicated to love. I generally like to begin thinking about this early on because admittedly I am not the most romantic man my wife has ever married. Even if I'm the only one.

Over the past few days I've been struggling to come up with an original idea for celebrating Valentine's Day. I don't want to just give my wife flowers or candy or all the other cliché' items that crop up during the first two weeks of February. I want to give her something she will remember, I thought to myself. And I pondered and pondered...nothing came.

This morning I passed my wife at the door in my rush to catch my carpool to work. "Goodbye, have a nice day!", she said holding our one year old who had conveniently woke up as soon as our feet touched the floor. Suffice it to say that I am not a morning person and all the more not so when I am busy AND rushed before I'm even out of my PJ's.

About halfway to my workplace I realized I had not kissed her good morning or goodbye. Throughout the day it plagued me that I had been so thoughtless as I left home. I remembered the early years of our marriage when it was completely unthinkable to not greet her with a kiss or leave her with one. It is not that the thrill is gone. It is that my memory is going! Busyness has stolen away with my heart and I need remember where to find it.

Having been unable to reach her during the day I sulked, my way to quitting time. On my way home I stopped by a jewelry store. After browsing a while I settled upon a nice necklace and earring set for her. This was not her Valentine's Day gift but simply because I had forgotten that which no one truly in love should. As I commuted the rest of the way home I decided I would build upon my mistake rather than tear myself down about it. As a part of my Valentine's Day celebration I am going to promise to kiss my with every morning until the following Valentine's Day. I say that it is a part of the celebration because I don't want to seem like a cheapskate. I will indulge her...uh...in some creative way for Valentine's Day. But I will also spoil her the rest of the year.