What I Really Want for Valentine’s Day Is a New Car

By Beth Gulley

According to the TV commercials I’ve been watching lately, next Monday I should expect my husband to take me out to an expensive restaurant, give me jewelry, a new car, strawberries dipped in chocolate and red roses. All the while, I will be wearing a beautiful dress that doesn’t itch, pinch or ride up. Then, because my husband has the right cell phone, our son will become president of the United States. Or, if my husband shops at Walmart, I can expect lingerie designed for someone who weighs 30 pounds more than I do, cheap silk roses, a pillow pet, a box of chocolate that no one will eat and a 20-pack of bubbles.

In my real adult life, I have only received about four valentines, even though I have been married for almost 15 years. I used to pout about this, which as every guy knows, did not win the favor of my spouse. However, a few years ago my family was invited to a “I survived the first year of my divorce” party for a friend whose husband left her with two kids and enough money that she had to chose between buying food or keeping the gas on. She had the party to thank people who had helped her through this tough time, and to help herself not to feel bitter. My friend asked me to share a little bit about my own marriage during her party.

At the party I shared some version of this. One of the best things about my husband is the way he brags on me in public. He has a way of making me feel like the most important person in the world. Just yesterday he invited me to his class to talk about some research I have been doing. The invitation alone made me feel like he valued and respected me, but the way he honored me when I visited his class by telling his students how wonderful I am made me feel proud all afternoon. I have noticed that my husband makes our children feel like they are the most important people in the world too. I cherish this gift.

So this valentine’s day, I plan to be grateful for the real gifts my husband gives me, and not pout if I don’t get a new car.

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Posted by admin on Feb 9 2011. Filed under Beth Gulley, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry