Valentine's Gifts Fit for a Goddess

The Sunday paper was blooming with pink and red ads for Valentine's Day presents last week: jewelry, candy, jewelry, clothing, flowers and more jewelry. Mere things, however expensive and well-meaning, do not warm this Goddess's heart.

What did my No. 1 do for Valentine's Day? He used his imagination and some forethought to give me two wonderful gifts far more valuable and personal than any store ad could suggest.

First a mysterious box arrived from the Vermont Country Store. What in the world would he have ordered from this unlikely source? A pair of the cutest, coziest pink micro-fleece slipper-sox you'll ever see with non-slip grippers printed on the soles in a white snowflake pattern!

He noticed I've been uncomfortable because my feet get cold so easily on the tile floors here during the winter. Our house is built on a concrete slab that floats on huge logs above the river. There's no insulation below the floor so of course it's cold! In the summertime the cool tile floors are a blessing, but not in the winter. Now my toes are toasty in my new super foot warmers!

But wait, there's more! He also spent time calling around to nearby auto detailers for the Goddess's trusty old '91 Suburu sedan. The interior had gotten musty and dusty over the years, but I won't give it up because it stills runs great and the all-wheel drive makes it so sure-footed in the rain.

He spent several hundred dollars to have the car completely detailed inside and out. It took them 3 days! They even took the seats completely out, cleaned every bit of the interior, steam-cleaned the engine, and polished up the exterior. Now I can motor to dance class in style! That was a better gift than any piece of jewelry!

Now I don't mean to put down women who love jewelry. I'm just not one of them. The point is that he thought about how he could make me feel more comfortable and cared for. His gifts were chosen with my personal needs in mind. Who cares what the rest of the world does for Valentine's Day!

If your Goddess loves jewelry, then by all means, give her jewelry. But think of some little off-the-wall item you could give her, or a service you could do for her, that would add to her comfort. Is there something that she doesn't have time to do that you could take care of for her? It doesn't have to be expensive. If it comes from your heart, she will be pleased and feel loved.

Happy Valentine's Day!