Love is...
...Etta James (this, btw, was Jimmy and my first dance at our wedding. Awww.)
...Grandma's Quilt
My sweet paternal Grandma, Martha Elizabeth Peters German (known as Mattie) made this quilt back in the 1930s. It was pieced, as a quilt really should be, from fabric cut from her children's old clothes, and her dresses which had worn out. I remember having it since I was just little. It was always our camping quilt and picnic quilt, and as a result, is worn and stained and frayed. I never use it, because it's so worn out, but on a recent particularly cold night, I pulled it out and tucked it around Jude as he was going to sleep. I told him that I liked to think that Grandma was wrapping her arms around him and keeping him warm at night. That sentimental little boy has taken to sleeping with it every night, it's his new favorite thing. Maybe he needed a little hug from his great-Grandma who he never knew.
...Words to be Proud of From My Wise Little Boy
The other day, Jude said to me, "You know, Mom, most guys say that when they pick a girl to marry they want a girl who's foxy and hot and everything. But I think I'd rather marry a girl who is kind." I swear to God. That's what he said.
...My Favorite Picture of my Grandparents
...The Love Story of Pups and Lambie
Pups and Lambie are Jude's very most favorite special lovey animals since he was little. When he was about six he announced to me that Pups and Lambie had gotten married. Apparently, it happened while we were on a Cub Scout camping trip, which puzzles me a bit, but I never asked for the details. Nonetheless, they are a happy and much loved couple. Recently, Pups and Lambie have been a bit...sigh...forgotten. In fact, I hadn't even seen them in a while. I guess that's to be expected now that the boy's ten years old. The other day, in a fit of cleaning, I decided to tackle the Ninth Level of Hell, also known as the area under Jude's bed. There I found, amid numerous books, toys and dust bunnies...Pups and Lambie, and they were, fittingly, right next to each other. I rescued them and arranged them on top of the bed where they belong. Jude was happy to see them. Their love story continues.
...My Nomination For Best Rock and Roll Love Song
Inspired by the most enduring rock and roll marriage of all time. Kills me every time.
...Dog Love
The other morning Jude woke up complaining that he hadn't slept very well. When I asked him why he said that our little dog, Fancy, had slept on top of him the entire night. When I asked him why he hadn't just shoved her off, he said "But she looked so happy!"
...Friends
I am blessed to have a writer's group which I meet with once a month. We are five women who met because our boys attend the same school, and we all had an interest in writing and reading. We started out as a somewhat unlikely quintet, with diverse upbringings and sensibilities. However, over the last two years, we have gone through a tremendous amount together, Cecilia having lost her son, and Julie, her husband. We have shared our writing and our pain, and we have come to depend on each others support. Last Saturday, when we met, Cecilia, who is understandably sensitive and intuitive about these things, was worried about how Julie was going to get through Valentine's Day, having so recently lost her husband, George. So she decided to buy her (and the rest of us) a little Valentine's something. She went to the store and stood there, unsure what to buy. Should she get her a card? Flowers? Champagne? Finally, she just looked to heaven and asked, "George, what should I get her? What do you want me to get for her?" And suddenly she knew she should buy her (and the rest of us) chocolates. When she gave them to us that night, Julie burst into tears. Because George had always given her chocolates. Isn't it great to have friends?
...My Very Favorite Picture of My Parents
The look on Daddy's face, the look on Mama's face, the look on my face. Perfect.
...This Year's Valentine's Feast
Those of you who are old-timers here at Second Blooming know that many years ago Jimmy and I decided to forgo the crowded, over-priced, bad-service Valentine's meals in restaurants in favor of a decadent meal at home, prepared by me. We love it. In the past, I have often made so much food that we seriously over-did it, and a couple of times never even ate the dessert. So this year we're simplifying, but it's probably the richest and most decadent meal yet. This year's menu...
Cioppino - This is the same thing I made for New Year's Eve, and it was so stinking good that we were licking our plates. Seriously, one of the best things I've ever made in my life. Recipe is HERE.
Molten Chocolate Cakes - For my chocolate-fiend husband and son. Everybody gets their own little ramekin filled with chocolately love. Recipe is HERE.
...The Return of the Beef Broth
Several years ago, I wrote THIS post about a silly ritual that Jimmy and I shared which involved silently hiding a can of beef broth for the other one to find. If you don't remember it, go read it now. No really, seriously, go read it, or this won't make sense. And it's a really good story. So READ IT now. I'll wait.........Are you back? Okay, so not long after writing that story, I decided that for the sake of public health, I needed to throw the old soup can away. It had been expired for years, and I was honestly afraid that the thing would explode and kill us all. Sad, but true. But...marriage has been stressful lately. I guess we all go through this. And I decided that we needed a reminder of why we fell in love in the first place. So I bought a new can of beef broth. The can made it's return under Jimmy's pillow one night. The next day I found it in my boot. Right now, it's here...
Ain't love grand?
__________________________________
Add your Valentine's Day Spin in the Linky below. Be sure and check out everybody else's post, and come back on Monday to find out what Ginny Marie and I have in store for you next week.
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!
Share your spin!
Highlight the code.
Copy to your HTML.
Et voila! Linked!
I don't remember that beef broth story! I definitely need to go back and read it. So many great "Love is" stories, Gretchen. If I told you how much I loved them all, my comment would be way too long! :)
Posted by: Ginny Marie | 02/14/2014 at 05:16 AM
You have the SWEETEST.CHILD. EVER. And that's saying something, because The Young One is a pretty sweet kid himself.
Ah, marital stress - I can completely relate. Fortunately, we seem to finally be on the upswing out of our latest bout (which was pretty effing bad, to be perfectly honest), and I am so relieved I can hardly stand it. Good for you reinstating the "hide the beef broth" game, which I do remember. I hope it helps.
Love you to death, woman.
Posted by: Jan's Sushi Bar | 02/14/2014 at 07:19 AM
It really is the little things that say I love you, be it beef broth, or in our case, Ground Hog Day the movie.
Love is knowing you found someone who's weirdness matches your own.
Posted by: VandyJ | 02/14/2014 at 07:29 AM
I love that the beef broth is back...I have friends who send the same pair of ugly socks to each other for their birthdays such a fun game of love! Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Posted by: Kristie | 02/14/2014 at 07:45 AM
This was one of the best Valentine's Day post ever! I love all of the memories and pictures. Jude is a very smart boy, you should be proud.
Posted by: Kristina Walters @ Kris On Fitness | 02/14/2014 at 09:39 AM
A perfectly wonderful post. Left me in tears of joy. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself in these memories.
Posted by: janice adcock | 02/15/2014 at 06:14 AM
"A girl that is kind." That is such a sweet kid. Wow, I hope he gets the sweetest girl when it is time to settle down. Such a sweetie.
Posted by: Sharon, The Mayor | 02/16/2014 at 08:00 PM
I went and read the Beef Broth post. What a great story! It's great that you can have such fun in your marriage, and I'm sure that's how enduring couples last through the tough times. Awesome post! Your son is super sweet and will probably break hearts someday.
Posted by: Angelina Costenaro | 02/17/2014 at 08:51 AM