Valentine's Day, What?

Me and Rob, dressed up for a dance.  Fall 2003, I think.  I was pregnant with Elijah.  Was Rob really this big?  Was I really that white?  Am I still?? 

You'll all be shocked to learn that I'm indifferent towards Valentine's Day.  I don't hate it, I just don't care about it.  It's the same as St. Patrick's Day.  Why, again, does it exist?

I did like that Rob made me brownies, first thing in the morning, as a surprise.  And I did like that he made the bed, which means it was made for the first time in months (I only rarely make the bed.  It seems so pointless to me).  And I like that people give cute Valentines.  Not that I give cute Valentines.  I just like when people give them to me.  Not that anyone did.  Just saying.

When I got a call from the school saying that Elijah was sick, I didn't think, "Ah, man!  This ruins my romantic holiday!"  I just went and picked him up.  Poor kid, he's been mostly miserable, with moments of bearably unpleasant.  Welcome, flu, to our home.  You can stay as long as you'd like, though I'd prefer if it wasn't too long.  Not trying to force you, though.  Make what decision you will.

But I have been thinking about a few things, relating to Rob and love and marriage and yucky stuff like that. 

First, Rob is still the best man I know.  This is why I married him, and my opinion hasn't changed since day one.  I've met men that I've thought were just as good as him.  As in, "Oh, he's another great guy, just like Rob."  But never, ever, ever have I met a man that blew Rob out of the water.

Second, Rob loves all the time, no matter what.  I do not.  I can be fickle and harsh and other things that aren't very charitable.  This is another reason why I married Rob.  He's impossibly loving!  And you know what?  It's impossible to not love someone who loves you impossibly well.  So in my worst moments, when I want to just not like him, I can't do it.  If I press hard, he just lets me.  If I yell, he holds me tighter (or lets go, whichever I demand at the moment).  If I say I hate him, he says, "What can I do to make you love me again."

Looking back, I did a good job finding a man who balances out my non-reliable-ness when it comes to love.  Not that I saw it at the time, but I'm grateful for it now.

Thank you, Rob, for being a better person than me.  Please don't ever change.

Happy Valentine's Day, a day late.  The roses were cheaper today.