A Reminiscent Valentine's Day

It seems that every year when February 14th rolls around, I have this tendency to do the "remember when" thing, where I reflect on Valentine's Days I've had in the past years, with past boyfriends. And even though I'm very happy with my current beau, I still do this. I'm at a loss as to why this is, and it's driving me crazy! None of my exes (except one) are worth remembering, but yet the reminiscing remains. So I figure, to get it out of my system, I'll share a few of these past V-Days with you.

My first V-Day that I ever celebrated with a boyfriend was when I was 19. He flew into see me, bought me a dozen red roses, and took me out to a fancy restaurant at a hotel downtown. I vividly remember being transferred into the back of the cab and the cabbie telling us his conspiracy theory behind the Richie Valenz/Big Bopper plan crash (apparently the Big Bopper had a gun and accidentally shot the pilot). Anyways (despite that bizarre segway), the dinner was divine and at every place setting in the restaurant was a freeze-dried rose (placed on the napkin). Talk about an awesome fist V-Day.

My next worth-mentioning V-Day experience was four years ago. I had just found the courage to start baking again after my injury, and made my boyfriend (at the time) pink-frosted cupcakes. They turned out great, he loved them, and he also took me out to my favorite Mexican/Asian fusion restaurant, where we dined on paella and tableside S'mores. Geesh. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I'm still in love with that restaurant.

And I'll also share with you a sad V-Day. It was in 2005 and my new, freshly-minted boyfriend had to go out of town for a funeral. I was in tears, and super lonely. I remember that V-Day night like it was yesterday. Lean Cuisine, bad television, and my paranoid cat to keep me company.

This year, even though it's lacking the grandiose romantic overtures I adore, it has (so far) gone great. The brownies I made turned out freaking perfect and my beau is cooking us steaks and garlic mashed potatoes tonight. Hmmm...is it dinnertime yet?