The Flog – The Fabry Log

The Countdown to the 7 days of Valentines has begun. It’s January 25th and I’ve wracked my brain for gifts. I made a purchase online and it came in the mail, but alas she opened it and saw what I had chosen.

Season 6 of the Mary Tyler Moore show, the one with the “Chuckles Bites the Dust” episode. She apologized and seemed pretty excited about the gift. Maybe she’ll forget it by the time February 8 rolls around.

If you don’t know this game, it was enacted several years ago when the kids were little. I do 7 days of Valentines because, to be honest, one day just has too much pressure. If I spread my choices out over 7 days, I show her I’m thinking of her, I know her, I’m working on knowing her better, and what woman doesn’t want that kind of thought put into a holiday cooked up by Big Chocolate and Big greeting card? Can you imagine how much money they rake in during February? I think there should be some kind of governmental commission looking into this.

But I digress.

Each day I print the number of the day—on February 8 it will be, “Day 1 of the 7 days of Valentines.” Then, on another sheet, I print a clue as to what the present might be. For example, if she hadn’t opened the video, I might have said, “This will bring a smile and maybe a chuckle.” She would never have guessed it, but there would have been a huge smile when she saw the video.

This year I have a file on my desktop “Andrea presents 2012.” I have a list of ideas, things I come up with during the day that may work, others won’t. Some are simple, a poem, a song, an idea for a video. These don’t cost anything but my time and thought and some effort by my children. Others are gifts I may purchase. Small things. Nothing extravagant, but all thoughtful.

If you’re looking for a good project this Valentine’s Day, 7 days wouldn’t be a bad idea. Be creative. Think. And see what happens in your own heart as you head toward February 14.