The Valentines Day Reality after so many years

Let's face it Valentines Day has its ebbs and tides.Three decades ago the long sought after perfect romantic cards were exchanged, the date night was carefully planned and always filled with excitement and sentiments.After about 5 years the romantic cards turned to funny cards because the mushy words just didn't fit my marriage narrative.Funny cards were easier to explain the reality.Then the cards dropped off, the gifts stopped and maybe there was a dinner out because after all who wants to cook on Valentines Day? It's not as special as it use to be, it's done because it's the right thing to do, but the relationship in reality is defined as "complicated" or better yet a "sick click". Yes my 10 year old son blurted out in a car ride one day "Mom, you and Dad have a sick click"..."What?!" "Well you click, but it's kind of sick"...the reality is: he nailed it.So as the years move forward and the ebbs and tides of the marriage now include radio job losses, several cancer diagnosis', moves, adjustments to the empty nest and a new reality, we have a new Valentines Day.Our biggest passions aren't necessarily each other but our chosen lines of work which we both love, our travels, our times with special friends. So in reflectiing on the years I remember a very special night as newly weds which brought up the sweet memories that back then were so easy to create. It was a listener Valentines cruise presented by KABL, my then Radio gig aboard the SF Spirit, a stunning 150 foot vessel built in 1991. We dressed up in our best while having the coolest Valentine date night. It's a memory with a wonderful photograph.So today, to say I found a sweet sought after Valentines Day card with words that defined us today from my hubs and a Spa certificate on the counter top and Me giving him a box of chocolate covered strawberries, I saw the full circle.It's a realistic Valentines Day .Still crazy after all these years we did it.It was a sweet Valentines Day as simple as it was, and I kind of like it this way.