Valentine’s Gift Once Removed

Act of love beats hearts and flowers

I think it’s wasteful to blow a jacked-up hundred-plenty bucks on a V-day bouquet that will croak within the week. I’d much rather receive a flower once a month than a dozen soon-to-wither roses once a year.

My preference is moot; my man-friend “doesn’t do” flowers, en masse or otherwise. (As he reminds me whenever I “happen to mention” how romantic it would be to receive a rose “just because.”)

To his credit, each year Chuck takes great pains to select and doctor up an adorable doggie card. He uses colored markers and stickers to personalize the message. (After using white label tape to cover up the reference to “mother” in order to substitute “friend.”)

Romantic he ain’t.

Last night, three days in advance of Valentine’s Day, Chuck stunned me by his proposal.

Not of marriage. What Chuck proposed — indeed, insisted upon — was transporting my daughter (she’s too weak to drive, and I don’t drive) to her infusion treatment.

Chuck picked Lauren up at seven-fifteen this morning; he brought her home at ten-thirty, after a detour to the supermarket.

In two days, I expect to receive an overwritten “Dear Mother” doggie card taped to a Hershey Bar.

No matter; I got my true gift, my precious present-by-proxy, today.

This true story was written in 2021