Love.

6 years ago today, a boy that I really liked gave me the most thoughtful present I’ve ever received.

Men: take notes. Or just print this post. Either one.

He gave me a dozen red roses which I displayed proudly in my freshman dorm room. The roses were just a teaser for our date that night after he got off work and showered to rid himself of the ever-present fish smell. He worked at Red Lobster. Now we’re off topic.

My friend came in, counted the roses, and reported back that there were only 11. My response was, “Seriously? Who counts someone else’s flowers?” But, alas, she was right. The florist jipped him.

The boy picked me up, we went to his family friend’s house and exchanged presents. My present seemed good in theory – I bought a box of kiddie valentines and wrote things I liked about him on each one.

He, on the other hand, gave me a single red rose in a vase full of shredded paper. A single rose that, in addition to the ones in my room, totaled one dozen red roses. After further examination, I noticed that the pieces of paper had words on them.

Words that told me on 157 different pieces of miniscule paper why he loved me. 157 reasons, because that is how many days we’d been dating.

[insert swoon]

Every Valentine’s Day, and periodically throughout the year, I dump them all out and reread each piece of paper.

I always look for my favorite:

It’s my favorite because 1,054 days after I read it the first time, I married that boy.

And  961 days after that, we had this guy:

I’m in love with two boys. Sometimes when my first love plays with or reads to or holds or even looks at my second love, I think my heart might explode.

I am one lucky girl. 

As an aside, I’d like to take the opportunity to apologize to my elementary school suitor who, on this day many years ago, gave me a flower which I then threw in the trash can in the bathroom when I thought he wasn’t looking. (He saw the whole thing.)  I’d also like to apologize to my 7th grade boyfriend for dumping you on this day even though I knew you had a present for me. I’m sorry to you both.

Maybe Taylor is the lucky one for making it through 6 Valentine’s Days without my breaking up with him.