This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Mostly what went through my head was the thought that I was unlikely to ever experience such abandonment myself again. In fact it’s so many years ago that I could only faintly recollect the emotion they call lust. That’s the downside of a long relationship, the intense passion doesn’t take very long to morph into more routine physical exercise, unless of course you are both avid readers of the kama sutra (and are not too knackered to summon up the energy and flexibility to try out any of the moves). We can’t all be married to Sting. I wonder if Trudy still goes to heaven and back every night. Oh well, I have so much else to be grateful for.
To get back to the subject in hand. On reflection, I gave the card thing a miss (as did Husband). Nowadays I find 14 February is less about the two of us, and more about reminding Son to remember to get Girlfriend something for Valentine’s Day. He recently completely forgot the 2nd anniversary of their going out together and I’m not sure he came out of that particular omission unscathed! But what should a 24 year old splash out for this occasion? Last weekend, when I asked him if he had anything planned for the 14th, he told me he had already organised a local florist to deliver some (rather expensive – what a surprise) red roses to Girlfriend’s office. Clever boy. We all like our colleagues to see how much our partner loves us! “And I’ll cook her fillet steak and sweet potato wedges because she really likes that.” Seems I would have been better off asking Son to remind Husband!
And for all those of us who don’t have a certain someone at the moment? May I suggest that we remember to love and cherish ourselves. If you find that tricky, then read this sign that I discovered in the changing room of the Cloudberry boutique in Angmering, Sussex: