February 2005

Hi Friends,

Gosh, where is the year new going. A minute ago, it was New Year's Eve and February is already here.

This month started out with a bang for me. Jim had to have back surgery in Nashville, which was a 40+-mile drive away from us. He had been having back problems for a long time and, typical of him, tried to be macho and take the pain until two of his lower vertebrae fused together from degenerative disc disease and neglecting the problem (he lost an inch in height!) He was on a third one preparing to stack on the other two when he gave in and decided to go with surgery to correct the problem.

All went well medically, but with our first "big" surgery ever, I have learned that my husband is not exactly a model patient. Ornery is more like it! Bored and frustrated, nothing made him happy-I actually went on strike twice the first week from caring for him, LOL! Then he started with the nocturnal wanderings like the ghost of Hamlet's father, getting into mischief in the middle of the night. But as I write this, he's on the mend and hopefully in a few weeks, he'll be back to work and life can return to it normal level of chaos.

I hope you all have a great Valentine's Day. I love Valentine's Day, and not just for the candy sales (yeah, right!). Seriously, I think it's a wonderful day where people stop to show someone else, whether it be their sweetie or a good friend or family member, that they are being thought of often and fondly. The holiday seems so focused on couples that folks I know are so surprised when they get a cute little valentine from me, just letting them know how special they are in my life.

For our sweethearts, here are a few ideas that take just a short time to put together to show or tell someone that you love him.

1. Put little store-bought kid valentines in his lunch box.

2. Write him little short loves notes or get candies for him and leave them somewhere for him to find-on his pillow, in his sock drawer, or briefcase.

3. Use a bathroom crayon and draw hearts, I Love You's, nicknames, etc. all over the shower. It doesn't show up until he takes a shower!

4. Send him text messages on his cell phone just to tell him you love him. I don't do this because I'm such a techno dolt I can't master the art of sending OR receiving text messages yet, but I thought this was one cute idea since everybody is talking on cell phones so much!

5. Put a special love song in the CD player in your love's car and put it right at the exact spot of the message you want them to hear. Put a note on the steering wheel telling them to push play.

Love,

Copyright © 2004 Diane Gilmore. All rights reserved