My funny Valentine

Geddy worked a charity event starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, so we did our little Valentine date Friday night. Nannie and Paw-Paw took care of The Hat Trick while we did the dinner-and-a-movie thing. Our plan was to see Friday the 13th, but after reading Plugged In Online's review we decided against it. (Another factor was the flushing of Rob Zombie's toilet on us disguised as a Halloween remake. Revolting but not at all scary.)

A new soda fountain/grill has opened on the square of our tiny downtown. Cute date idea, and we do try to support our local businesses. Unfortunately, the food was awful. G got a mediocre chili dog the size of my pinkie and my cheesesteak was dripping with Cheese Whiz and topped with an ice-cold bun.

Ick.

We thought we'd do dessert at a different restaurant, but by the time we shook the dust of the first place off our heels, every other place was packed. We drove by the theatre to see if any other movies appealed to us, but no. Nothing was happening at the local university's performing arts center and no basketball was scheduled, so we were pretty much out of luck.

Good for us that Publix has yummy desserts. We chose a cannoli and a slice of cheesecake and enjoyed them in the cafe area, then drove to pick up our children.

Valentine's Day promised to be just as prosaic and unromantic as our date the night before. We breakfasted on pancakes, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and juice at the fundraiser at which G volunteered, and then I took Moe to the doctor while G took the Bigs to run a couple of errands. Moe had bronchitis and an ear infection that required medication and rest, so when we met up at home it became an impromptu family movie day.

The five of us piled up on our bed to watch Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, me holding our medicated and sleepy 7-year-old in my arms. Our newest adoptee, a mostly gray cat named Lacie, decided to join us as we ate popcorn, drank soda and giggled at the movie.

As we critiqued and compared (movie to the original with Gene Wilder, both movies to book) and stopped for medicine and snack refill and bathroom breaks, I realized that this spontaneous movie day with lots of laughter and snuggling fed me in a way that no restaurant meal -- no matter how delicious or expensive -- could ever have done.

I was reminded once again that trying to squeeze a whole year's worth of love into one splendidly showy day is near impossible because it will never be enough. Happily, I am one of the truly lucky, happy and blessed to have a family that makes every day Valentine's Day.