2.14.99

    T. and I cannot remember what we did for Valentine's Day last year. We might have gone out to dinner; but where? We might have stayed in; did we rent a video? Apparently there was nothing noteworthy to report in the Stories. Maybe we forgot to do anything.

    At that time, T. and I had just moved into this apartment. We were very poor from moving me from Portland to here and then us into this new place. Surely we just made dinner at home. We didn't have a kitchen table or a coffee table or much of anything. It's amazing how much you can accumulate in a year.

    The year before that, we celebrated with the now-defunct Bob'n'Anne duo and had a wildly expensive dinner at Joe Federigo's in Eugene. I think my wallet is still hurting from that evening but it was a lot of fun.

    The year before that, T. took me to this hick bar out in the boonies. Poor guy. He was looking for a new place for us to try and found this hotel that our "friend" Pete said had a good restaurant. The hotel had the tiniest little restaurant and they were doing their damndest to put on the perfect Valentine's Day dinner but it was all overshadowed by the bikers and their drunk girlfriends performing Karaoke in the adjoining bar. I did get a lovely, red carnation courtesy of the restaurant. I thought it was all hilarious but T. was slightly embarrassed.

    The year before that, we had our first date. We went to see Red playing at the art theatre, The Bijou. There we held hands and my stomach did so many loops I thought I was going to puke. Afterwards we went and had a beer at Max's (our hole-in-the-wall watering hole) and then he walked me home very slowly. We talked out behind my house, in the alley, for awhile and then we kissed. Talk about sparks. Zowie! I've been in love with him ever since.

    I find it ironic that Valentine's day is special to me. I'm not the kind of girl you'd expect to find swooning over pink hearts and chocolate-coated nuget. But, nonetheless, there it is. We've been together four years today and this is our fifth Valentine's Day together.

    He changed my life. He made me into a better person. He was the first man I ever said "I love you" to. He's caring and gentle and sweet and hilarious. He keeps me laughing every single day. He holds me up when I want to crumble and is patient when I do it anyway. He makes me dinner and records my shows. He thinks about me when I'm not around — at least he says he does. He kisses me with passion and hugs me tight. He laughs at my jokes.

    I never thought my heart could feel so full. I love you, sweetie, for today and many Valentine's to come. Thanks.