There are a lot of feelings about Valentines Day. Some people love it but lots don’t. They don’t like the commercialism. Or they don’t like how it makes them feel as if not having a valentine were a reflection on them for not having a significant other or not being loved or whatever. I dunno. I don’t have such strong feelings about this day. But then again I don’t have a lot of love for it either. I have been thinking about it a lot this week. I am not exactly sure why. It wasn’t as if Valentines Day was anything that Mike and I made a big deal of. Sure we had a couple times where we exchanged sweet gifts or went out together but it wasn’t an all out day of romance. It just wasn’t our thing. But why think about it?
Then yesterday it hit me…
Debbie and I were taking our daily 2 mile walk yesterday morning. When we walk, we close off everything around us. We don’t even talk to each other. Each of us plug our iPods in and get lost in the music and count our laps around the mall. I had the music turned up loud when this song started. It was “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain. The lyrics are as follows:
The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath.
And emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth.
Tell me that we belong together,
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I’ll be captivated,
I’ll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.
[Chorus:]
I’ll be your crying shoulder,
I’ll be love’s suicide
I’ll be better when I’m older,
I’ll be the greatest fan of your life.
And rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed.
You’re my survival, you’re my living proof.
My love is alive — not dead.
Tell me that we belong together.
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I’ll be captivated,
I’ll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above
[Chorus]
And I’ve dropped out, I’ve burned up, I’ve fought my way back from the dead.
I’ve tuned in, turned on, remembered the things that you said
[Chorus:]
I’ll be your crying shoulder,
I’ll be love’s suicide
I’ll be better when I’m older,
I’ll be the greatest fan of your…
I’ll be your crying shoulder,
I’ll be love’s suicide
I’ll be better when I’m older,
I’ll be the greatest fan of your life.
The greatest fan of your life.
…greatest fan of your life.
As the words of this song were sung a memory came to me from 14 years ago this week. It was Mike’s first time on an airplane. He was 24 years old… traveling alone from rural Pennsylvania via Chicago O’Hare to San Francisco to meet me face to face for the first time and spend 9 days with me. We went everywhere that week and a half. I wanted to show him as much of California as I could because I didn’t know when or if he’d ever get to go back there and let’s be honest, I wanted to impress him. 
During that week he got to see San Francisco, Monterrey, most of central California as we made our way south to spend a few days in the Los Angeles area. I got to take him to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time. He got to eat shark for his first time with me. His first visit to Disneyland was with me. We shared a dance in the parking lot at Universal Studios. George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” blared over the stereo of my car as he held me close. It was in a word, magical.
We had gotten to know each other fairly well over the previous 3 months – as well as two cyber-pen pals could. It was difficult to have a relationship that way. It didn’t take long for chat to get old. Our phone bills reflected that in a big way. We needed this time in person. Would the spark still be there? There is a lot to be said about chemistry and whether or not it could be replicated. And it was. It was a glorious 9 days.
Then the day came when he had to leave and go back home to Pennsylvania. It was Valentines Day 1996. They let you walk people to the gate at the airport back then. He was to fly back home from LAX. It would be a long 4+ hour flight for him and a long days drive back home to Northern California for me. Saying goodbye was difficult. We didn’t want to say goodbye. We both cried. It was that moment when we both just knew for certain. It was wonderful and painful all at the same time.
And it was a moment that I hadn’t thought of in a very long time. Why now? Then this song started to play…
Well the world just lost two lonely people
The world just lost two broken hearts
The odds were against it but baby here we are
In our own little place in our own little corner
This old cold world just got a little warmer
For the rest of my life I’m gonna hold you in my arms
Chorus:
And when they carve my stone all they’ll need to write on it
Is once lived a man who got all he ever wanted
Tell me something who could ask for more
Then to be living in a moment you would die for
If I never get rich on what money can buy
It don’t matter to me and I’ll tell you why
I’ve got it all when I’m holding you this way
I’ll live to love you I’d die to keep you
Safe inside these arms that need you
I’ll be loving you with the very last breath I take
Chorus
Bridge:
Ashes to ashes dust into dust
I’ll lay beside you forever in love
Last Chorus:
And when they carve my stone all they’ll need to write on it
Is once lived a man who got all he ever wanted
Tell me something who could ask for more
Then to be living in a moment
Loving every minute
Tell me something who could ask for more
Then to be living in a moment you would die for
Living in a moment
I would die for
(Living in a Moment by Ty Herndon)
I think Mike wanted me to remember this. I think it was his way of telling me that maybe there is more to this day than meets the eye. I think he’s telling me that we’ve just gone back to that time 14 years ago. Separated by distance but not by love. ‘Til we meet again, my darling… Happy Valentines Day.
I love you.
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