My Valentine

The traffic was so slow going back to Orange County. It was raining a little bit and we had to stop for dinner at some place. We’re both exhausted from the 3-day trade show and had packed everything up; put it all together in the booth box to give to the shipping guys while some materials went to the car. We checked out so early in that morning from Hilton too.

“How would you feel if I didn’t give you any card or gift at all?” he asked. I was silent for a while. I choked unto that question. I wished I’d disappear at that very moment. I melted with embarrassment and I couldn’t find any answers to that question at all.

“No, I’m serious. I’ve been meaning to ask you about this,” my husband continued. “You didn’t give me a birthday card last year and now no Valentine card too. Why is that?” he asked again.

Tears fell down my cheeks. Still no answer from me. I don’t know where to start. I wished I didn’t have to explain it. I know there will be confrontations about it but I was hoping that I can explain it later once we get home. When he asked me if it's okay to ask a favor- at that very instant I knew I was in trouble.

Yes, he fried me with his interrogations and I have a confession to make. On his birthday, we were in Chicago for a trade show. I didn’t know how to drive at that time. The only time I can get out of the house without him was when Mimi (Indonesian friend) would pick me up. I just relied on e-card but I was procrastinating until there’s not enough time to make one. We have to prepare the booth for the trade show. I didn’t realize it was a lot of work to put it all together. Then, we have to pack up for a flight the next day. We have to be there 2 days before the convention. On the first day of the show (his birthday), he left the hotel room earlier than me to help B set up some stuff at the booth. I thought I could make an e-card then. I hurriedly grab the laptop but was caught off guard reading an email from his old-time friend in Indonesia. I was not supposed to read it but he left it open. I was so pissed and jealous and instead of working on my e-card, I just thought forget it. So there, I didn’t even greet him when I get to our booth. Yes, to make even. I just told him that I have read that birthday greetings from his girlfriend. One thing that pisses me off was the closing, Love. Grrrrrr. He said she always does that. Whatever. Then, it became my problem because I read something I was not supposed to. Hey, it was left open! Well, it was history, she didn’t write to him anymore. I just found out that she used to do it to her old boyfriend too and the wifey had the same reaction.

Okay, the Valentine’s card? Well, I'm still not driving yet. So, I spent over 2 hours working on that e-card. It was really late and we have to wake up so early in the morning. We have to drive to San Diego for a trade show. We already spent the whole day at the Convention Center preparing the booth. It was exhausting and I haven’t packed my clothes to wear for the convention. After all the 2-hour of tweaking-and-making-it-more-real card when it’s time to save it… darn, it was gone. I kept hitting the “Back” button but I can’t retrieve it. Doggoneit! I was so frustrated. Then, he was telling me to hurry and pack my things coz it’s getting late. Its past 12 already and I don’t know what else to do. Bummer!

"You can just write it in a Word doc, that's fine with me" he said. I wrote him a 2-page letter in a Word doc a week after Valentine. Surprisingly, he kept all the cards that I had given him even those that I sent when I was still in the Philippines.

Oh, I felt so bad for all those 2 occasions. On the other hand, my husband never forgets any occasion at all. He’s very thoughtful.

Well, this time I make sure I don’t make the same mistake and had put an effort of making it up. I don’t have enough time but he’s worth more than my half-day, of course! I put some scrapbook-look on my Valentine card. A little amateurish but I hope he’ll like it.