Saturday, February 14, 2015

A Valentine




Tis the day of pink and red and hearts....

Champagne kisses


Red Cashmere




Someone forgot to tell the Amaryllis to stop blooming...

Red Tulips


Glass Hearts


Pink Sequins


Tiffany Hearts



It is also the 30th anniversary of my first date with Barry.  Which was followed two months later by my engagement to Barry and four months later by our marriage.

You'd almost think I was a mail order bride or something, wouldn't you?

We've spent the last 30 years getting to know one another, which, if truth be told, is not a bad way to spend 30 years.

 



The week of February 14, 1985 Wham's Careless Whisper was #1 on the charts, but we were obsessed with Tears for Fears, Ziggy Stardust and U2.  I think we listened to a lot of Kate Bush then, too, because Mark Lutes was obsessed with her.  We outlasted Wham and Tears for Fears, but at least Bowie and U2 are going strong!

We were in our last year of university and to say we had the future plotted out wouldn't be a gross exaggeration, it would be an outright lie.

In fact, during the three years that followed that first date, we lived all over the country, were happy, were unhappy, had adventures, had boredom, but most of all, had a strange optimism that things would all turn out okay in the end.  And mostly, they have.

The best things we did were these two people

This picture, taken by my cousin Ana, is still my favourite of the two of them

and the friends we've collected along the way.

I have spent my whole life being insanely curious about the people around me.  I love people and I love their stories.  As a police officer, he was always a little more circumspect about the world.

Barry is my valentine,



and tonight we are going to Brewbakers for dinner, where, exactly 30 years ago today and when it was the Cosmopolitan Nightclub, we went for a drink and I asked "Are we just going to be friends?" (yes I was always that straightforward) and he famously replied "I have enough friends".  Hard to argue with that kind of logic.

But besides my family - McLeods and other others - my many friends are also my valentines:


  • My old pals from St. Stephen
  • My high school buddies from Fredericton
  • My university friends
  • People I've worked with throughout my career who turned into friends
  • People I've found through the 'net

One of the happiest things in life is discovering that there is no limit to the number of people you can love.

We are only limited by our capacity to embrace people and be open to their gifts.

So happy Valentines Day - May you blessed with love and may you create it.  Nothing else matters.

xoxo wendy

30 comments:

  1. Dear Wenders, I've been a little absent from the 'net lately, but what a great way to ease back in! I think that Barry is America's Valentine, he is so wonderful! But lest it goes to his head, he is also lucky to have you, and I can't imagine there being a dull moment with you too. What a beautiful way to celebrate an anniversary, I am not much of a romantic, but even my cold, cynical heart can appreciate the romance. My husband and I went through a similar path, where I wanted to be friend, but he wasn't having it, though it took him 3 1/2 years to wear me down :)
    Happy Valentine's day to you and yours, and may you always have the blessing of loving and being loved!

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    1. Ha! Lest I mislead you - I didn't want to be friends, either!

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  2. Thanks for posting such wonderful writing everyday but this is EXTRA special. Happy Valentine's Day!

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    1. Thanks Magistra - Happy Valentine's Day to you as well!

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  3. Happy Anniversary of the Fateful Day.

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  4. What a wonderful story! Your 2 little people are darling in that picture. Happy Valentine's Day ! BTW I am really quite taken by the cushion on your chair.

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  5. You're quite brave to have had a first date on Valentine's Day!

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  6. Blogger greedy on chocolate and ate my comment. Lovely photos. To the next 30 Wendy & Barry!

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  7. That was sweet! Happy Valentine's Day to you and your sweetheart!

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  8. Hooray for you and Barry! I know it takes work and a long list of other things but in the end I think that some people just get lucky in finding their perfect Valentine that loves them for life. Thankfully I got lucky too. Happy Valentine's Day!

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  9. Congrats on your anniversary, Wendy, and have a happy Valentine's day!

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  10. Happy Valentine's Day! Congratulations on your anniversary and here's to many more to come. It will be 10 years this year since my first date with my husband. Neither of us can believe it, the time seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye!

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    1. It is so funny - it goes by so quickly! It's like your babies - soon enough they will be my kids' age and you will miss the chaos!

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  11. Hope you had a wonderful week end. It's wonderful to find a "keeper" isn't it?

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  12. Sweet photo of your kids!! A Valentine for you and Barry in two packages.

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  13. Happy Valentines, sweet bloggy friend! Bet you looked fabuloso in pink skirt - want to see that on you Wendy.

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  14. Hope you had a great V day. I'm sure Barry was a goner after that first date, who can resist your sparkling self? He sure moved fast and you are still going strong after 30 years, love your story.

    Sorry won't be able to make it to your morning meet-up because of work but I will find a way to drop by for a quick hi during your visit. Do you know what part of the city you are staying?

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    1. Marie - we are down in Times Square @ tourist town! Hope we run into each other!

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    2. Marie - we have a location - send me an email and will let you know where we are all meeting for coffee!

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  15. What a beautiful story Wendy! I love Barry's response. Have to love a man who is confident and knows what he wants.
    I love these types of stories of short courtships and great love!

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  16. Oh, great, I just love this post - and I need that cushion!

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  17. Happy belated Valentine's Day. What a lovely love story.

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Kindness is a virtue...