A Chocolate Lover’s Delight

I know this week we’re talking about the most romantic things we’ve ever seen/experienced.

I’ll get to that. Eventually. What I really wanted to say is that for chocolate lovers, the day after Valentine’s Day is like Christmas. Why? Because all of the chocolates that weren’t sold for sweethearts go on sale. Squee! Um, not that I’ve intentionally gone to the store just to pick up as much chocolate as I can carry or anything. I’ve been tempted, but I manage to curb my urges…most of the time.

Since I’m dieting, walking in the store with all of the aisles of chocolate is like asking me not to talk about Gerard Butler. Yeah. It’s that impossible! Anyway, I suspect I’ll pick up a few pieces of chocolate…Um.

So the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen or heard of happened to my mom. She always talks of this unexpected romantic gesture made by my stepdad before they got married. Now, my stepdad wasn’t anyone’s idea of a romantic. He was a truck driver and a country boy. When she was in the hospital after giving birth to my brother, my stepdad bought her a flower arrangement. It was a funeral arrangement, but he said they were flowers, so what did it matter?

Yet before the baby and before the wedding, he did something surprisingly sweet. He took Mom with him on one of his trips and they were driving to a rig out in the swamp. My mom admired the water lilies and may have wished she could have one. He promptly pulled his rig over, got out of the truck and waded through the marsh to get her a water-lily.

Yes, this is the man who thought a funeral arrangement was a good idea for his baby’s birth. This is a man who couldn’t swim despite being in the Navy, but he braved the water and alligators and snakes to get his lady-love a water-lily.

I always thought it was the sweetest, most adorable gesture coming from a man I knew who didn’t have a romantic bone in his body. I suppose it just goes to show that even though you know someone well, they can constantly surprise you.

Now, if you don’t mind, I have chocolate to buy 😉