Things like flowers, candy, cards or jewelry...she told me that she too had married a real romantic guy, one who in many many years of marriage brought her a heart shaped box of candy, once.
She also told me that he never kissed her in public.
Or held her hand when others may be looking.
She told me that one time she asked him why?
"Look at Lina and Jack" she said to him referring to a couple they hung out with "they are always holding hands".
"Lina has to hold his hand to keep it from bustin her in the chops" was my grandfather's response.
I remember asking my grandmother "so you don't care that you don't get presents on Valentines Day and you don't care that your husband won't show his affection for you in public?"
"Your grandfather treats me like a queen" she said "I know it, he knows it, gifts and public affection are for show."
She then went on to school me that I had a good man, who treated me right.
"It's how he cleans off your car, and warms it up in the winter, that's the kind of stuff that matters" she reminded me.
"You tell me how he lays his pay check on the dresser every Friday night and tells you "here's your money" with a big proud, smile on his face."
"And" she added "He chooses to come home to you every night and not stop and blow all his pay at the bar on his way home from work.
"That's the stuff that really counts"
"He is good to you 365 days a year."
"When you have a good man, every day is Valentine's Day" she told me.
So don't ask me tomorrow what I got for Valentine's Day.....Daddio and I don't celebrate :-)
A very private, yet very lovely, love story....
(He agreed to kiss her in public on their 50th wedding anniversary, all those in attendance, blushed)
(He agreed to kiss her in public on their 50th wedding anniversary, all those in attendance, blushed)
