It's Valentine's Day today. Not a real holiday, but still I was about to write that this is the first holiday we have to celebrate without you. Obviously, that is far from true as we've already done Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years. But, we didn't really celebrate those so much as exist through them, letting the days wash over us practically unnoticed as different from other, miserable days in the wake of your death. I guess I'll just say this is the first holiday that's happening more than a week out from losing you.
You were actually very sentimental and romantic, much moreso than Mom. You loved opera, classical music, and could be really, really corny. I can remember times when you would come home from work and give Mom a really big and dramatic kiss in the kitchen. You'd say something about your "beautiful and lovely wife." Mom would act embarrassed and sort of brush you off, but behind her eye-roll she had to suppress a grin. I always thought she secretly liked your romantic side. And at times like those, I always thought I hope I have a husband one day who acts like that.
I can't remember if you had a Valentine's Day tradition, I don't think so, but still today has got to be hard for Mom. I got her flowers and Junior Mints, which you two always used to get on your movie dates. I'm sure she wishes you were here to share (and by share I mean eat almost all of) the Junior Mints with her.
I hope the cats don't eat the flowers and then vomit them up on the rug. Right after you died, the house filled with flowers. Really beautiful arrangements came from everyone and everywhere. But, in typical Dempsey household fashion, the cats started eating them and then puking them up in unfortunate places. So we had to start bringing all of the flower arrangements into the upstairs hallway at night, or move them outside, or put them places we thought the cats couldn't reach. Every evening and morning there was a procession of flower moving. Like our long history of various animals who don't get along and need to be separated into different quadrants of the house, this really did feel like something that would only happen in our house, a true Dempsey Family special. I thought you might find that story funny.
love you,
a
You were actually very sentimental and romantic, much moreso than Mom. You loved opera, classical music, and could be really, really corny. I can remember times when you would come home from work and give Mom a really big and dramatic kiss in the kitchen. You'd say something about your "beautiful and lovely wife." Mom would act embarrassed and sort of brush you off, but behind her eye-roll she had to suppress a grin. I always thought she secretly liked your romantic side. And at times like those, I always thought I hope I have a husband one day who acts like that.
I can't remember if you had a Valentine's Day tradition, I don't think so, but still today has got to be hard for Mom. I got her flowers and Junior Mints, which you two always used to get on your movie dates. I'm sure she wishes you were here to share (and by share I mean eat almost all of) the Junior Mints with her.
I hope the cats don't eat the flowers and then vomit them up on the rug. Right after you died, the house filled with flowers. Really beautiful arrangements came from everyone and everywhere. But, in typical Dempsey household fashion, the cats started eating them and then puking them up in unfortunate places. So we had to start bringing all of the flower arrangements into the upstairs hallway at night, or move them outside, or put them places we thought the cats couldn't reach. Every evening and morning there was a procession of flower moving. Like our long history of various animals who don't get along and need to be separated into different quadrants of the house, this really did feel like something that would only happen in our house, a true Dempsey Family special. I thought you might find that story funny.
love you,
a
Happy Valentine's Day Amy! I am the other sucker for sentimentality and cornball stuff on V-day and other days. I got Idriss a heart-shaped box of chocolates! We did OK today.
ReplyDeleteI am not at all by the shennanigans with the cats.
ReplyDeleteI am not at all surprised by the shenanigans from the cats!
ReplyDeleteHaha, Eliz, for you just more proof that cats are scary :)
ReplyDelete