For the past 2 Valentine's Days since Dday, I gave WH a card that just said "Happy Valentine's Day to my husband", & that's it, to get around this dilemma.
WH gave me a Valentine early this year. It says:
To the one person I consider to be my soulmate
I am so glad that you are a part of my life.
It is a privilege---to know you, to share myself with you, and to walk together on the paths that take us in so many beautiful directions...
I had heard of "soul mates" before, but I never knew such a person could exist---until I met you.
Somehow, out of all the twists and turns our lives could have taken, and out of all the chances we might have missed, it almost seems like we were given a meant -to-be moment---to meet, to get to know one another, and to set the stage for a special togetherness.
When I am with you, I know that I am in the presence of someone who makes my life more complete than I ever dreamed it could be.
I turn to you for trust, and you give it openly.
I look to you for inspiration, for answers, and for encouragement, and --not only do you never let me down--you lift my spirits up and take my thoughts to places where my troubles seem much farther away and my joys feel like they're going to stay in my life forever.
I hope you'll stay forever, too. I feel like you're my soul mate. And I want you to know that my world is reassured by you, my tomorrows need to have you near, so many of my smiles depend on you, and my heart is so thankful that you're here.
Dearest mchercheur, You are loved by me more than you'll ever know.
(^^^this last line, WH wrote in by hand.)
OK, I know he took about an hour to find that card , because I know how long he was gone.
Before Dday, he would never have given me a card like that.
But, when I read it, all I could think was "How can you cheat on your soulmate?"
Maybe he has only come to the realization (that I am his soulmate) now.
Before Dday, I was only his wife for 23 years & the mother of his 4 children, & the other income-earner in the house, & the servant girl for him & his family, & the housekeeper, chauffeur, & cook, & the caretaker of our kids.
I think I will just stick to "Happy Valentine's Day to my husband" again this year.
[This message edited by mchercheur at 12:13 PM, February 13th (Thursday)]