Interesting enough most of those I've had serious relationships were very cerebral and didn't care much for Valentines, and the one I was with for years who was very emotional didn't like Valentines because she thought it was a cop out so you could take others for granted for the rest of the year. As a result I've kept it low key (as I'm scared that deep down it does hurt their feelings if the day is completely ignored but I don't want to make them feel obligated to celebrate a holiday they don't care much about), and I try to show that I know and care for my partner rather than just some stupid obligatory consumerism (plus, I like to avoid holiday crowds, so no eating out on that day).
I'm glad to say my Valentine's surprise was very well received today. It was
this book to my history teacher partner who loves history (more the trivia than the great battles), and did a college thesis on Xenophon that she's very proud of. When she found out (early in our relationship) that I'd never read him she loaned me her copy of
Hiero the Tyrant to read so she could then talk about her college thesis. And after reading it in I think 2 hours I also had quite a bit to say about Machiavelli, not only in comparison & contrast to what Xenophon had to say but in no longer accepting that he was making a satire as a few claim or intentionally giving bad advice as a few others say. Natch, we also talked about her thesis which I found really interesting (about who the real world characters were that inspired the characters), and she said she knew she chose right with me because of that. So see, it IS sentimental that I gave her this book, showing I paid attention to her, know her, and care, but in case it was too subtle I signed it for her saying, "I love you more than you love history."
She loved it, and though she said she read it years ago she was reading it before and after supper, and is reading it now while I play on the computer. And every time she picks it up or even looks at it she's going to remember I love her.
mile:
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