Flower on the Hill

If you’re single or in a relationship, I’d bet good money that at some point along the road you have asked yourself what it would be like if you’d stayed with an ex. Usually this is a fleeting thought that never amounts to anything more.

Today I had a glimpse into what my life may have looked like if I had chosen to stay with an ex-boyfriend. We’re on fair terms; we didn’t speak for years and now we have a very casual, shallow relationship. We dated more than 6 years ago. I realize now that I didn’t know this boy as well as I thought I did at the time. Today he is a stranger. He’s a stranger with whom I share a history and funny stories and memories.

I used to see this boy as my first love and staying true to everything ‘they’ always say about a person’s first love, I’ve always held a bit of a tender spot for him. Today I got a fresh understanding for how young and naive my heart was. Yes, he’s a good guy and yes he was my first love - but he was never meant to be someone who I’d spend my life with. He could never have completed me the way my husband does. A history and funny stories and memories could never be enough.

Maybe we’ll stay friends for many more years. Maybe we won’t. I’m glad to see that he’s doing well - but I know that my life couldn’t have been better in that “what if” fantasy.

My life is the best it could possibly be. Now.

Today is Valentine’s Day. The busiest day of the year for florists, fancy restaurants, movie theatres and hotels. Stores prepare for months for this day, decorating their space with pink, red, hearts and cupid - hoping that by Feb 14th their stock will sell out. To my joy, they don’t - and V-Day chocolate goes on sale tomorrow :)

Husband is away today. He’ll be spending his Valentine’s Day posted at a base 6 hours from home. He gave me my Heart Day surprise on the weekend.. very sweet!

Saturday morning we got up to run some errands. As I started getting ready I said “oh, maybe we can stop at McDonalds for some greasy breakfast”. Realizing it was 10:45 and they stop serving breakfast at 11, Husband hopped in the truck, rushed all the way to McD’s, bought breakfast, bought a bouquet of flowers, and rushed home to surprise me as I got out of the shower. A meal from McDonalds has never been so romantic!

Do you have a cute Heart Day story to share?

Husband is away again. This time he’ll be gone over Valentine’s Day and our less celebrated 6-year dating anniversary.

I wonder if he’ll remember? Will he plan a surprise? Maybe a delivery of flowers or something sweet?

If he were home I think I would probably make him a breakfast like this:

And some sweets like this:

And a card like this:

:)

Wooo! A busy week for me. Strange as it sounds, my cultural heritage is a mix of Chinese, British, Scottish, and French Canadian. This week I get the privilege of celebrating both Chinese New Year (my favourite holiday) and Robbie Burns Day!

Here are some details:

Chinese New Year
- Chinese food, often dim sum or peking duck
- green tea
- known for costumes, dragons, paper lanterns
- red envelopes
- very superstitious

Robbie Burns Day
- haggis
- scotch whisky
- known for poetry, folk songs
- Auld Lang Syne
- very drunk

So, there you have it folks! The two largest influences on my culture: crazy decor and licquor :)

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796)

It’s been awhile since I’ve tumbled…

Last week Husband left for Kingston CFB. He’ll be there for 3 weeks for an infantry course.

He came home over the weekend (Kingston is only 3 hours away, so at least I get weekends with him!) and declared his love for the Limestone City. He says it’s one of the only places he’s been to where the “townsfolk” truly accept the troops. The residents of Kingston actually enjoy the soldiers who come in and out of the base! For those of you who aren’t familiar with military postings, this pleasant attitude is almost unheard of.

Perhaps it’s because Kingston is also home to the Royal Military College (RMC)? Or perhaps the city is simply accustomed to people coming and going seasonally since it also has Queen’s University in its midst.

Either way, we’re looking at Kingston as a candidate on possible cities to settle down in. This is how the list currently stands:
1. Milton, Ontario
2. Kingston, Ontario
3. Guelph, Ontario

Any suggestions for the running?

Do you feel that Canada has officially pulled out of Afghanistan, now that Tim Hortons has announced they will be tearing down their station at Kandahar base?