I’ve never liked making a big deal of Valentine’s Day. Hubs and I don't go out to dinner on the
actual day because we don’t like crowds, or waiting an hour after our reservation
time to get a table, or over-priced prix fixe menus. But I do like occasionally
dressing up and going out, so we usually celebrate Valentine’s Day the week before or after. On the day of, I’d
rather stay home and spend time together, sipping wine after Quinn goes to bed,
maybe watch a movie or play cards or break out the dominoes. Yes, I know, it’s
hard to keep up with us wild and crazy Kirtleys.
But this year, Hubs and I are forced to spend Valentine’s
Day apart. Hubs is a product marketing manager for A Big Corporation, and the
product (giant robot) he spent almost two years creating finally launched late last year. So
for the last few months, he’s had to travel a lot more than usual, going to shows and conferences and
visiting customers. On Tuesday, he left for his longest business trip thus far – seventeen days. In. A. Row.
On this Valentine’s Day, Hubs is in Paris, the most romantic city in the world. Without
me. For a millisecond, I considered possibly flying with Q and meeting him
there, and then I decided that fourteen hours on an airplane with a two year
old by myself would not put me in the most romantic mood. Hubs is only in Paris
for a couple days anyway before he flies off to the next European city on his
itinerary. So to turn around and fly back by myself with a toddler two days
later? Yeah… I think we’ll just celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day when he
returns.
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| Nicole and me, sophomore year. There's a 99.9% chance we're ridiculously drunk in this picture. (Sorry, Mom... And Nicole.) |
Don’t feel too sorry for me, though. To quote Hubs, our “dance
card is packed.” Today, my dear friend and college roommate, Nicole, arrives from Michigan to
spend the long Presidents' Day weekend with Q and me. I can’t wait to see her! Fifteen years
is a long time to be friends. We can tell each other anything. No matter how long it’s been since we last talked
or saw each other, we always pick up like no time has passed at all. I love
that about her.
So if I can’t spend Valentine’s Day with Hubs, I’m glad I get
to spend it with Nicole. Besides, she’s cute and gives good hugs.
Then, after Nicole leaves on Monday morning, my mom flies in that night and
is staying with us for a week. Yay! We haven’t seen my mom since Q and I went to Michigan last summer.
She’s so excited to see him, she can barely sit still! It will be very nice to
see Quinn and his Grandma Lori spending time together. I show him her picture all
the time, and her Facebook profile photo shows up on my phone when she calls,
so Quinn recognizes her even though he doesn’t get to see her much.
For nine of the seventeen days Hubs is traveling, we will have company. It will be
great to have another adult around to talk to. (I’m sure Q feels the same way!)
And during the last week of solo-parenting, after my mom leaves, friends have
invited us over for dinner, so we’re well taken care of over here. See, no need
to feel sorry for me.
Wishing you lots of love and chocolate this Valentine’s Day!
Au revior!
