T and I have never been big on celebrating Valentine's Day. When we were dating our anniversary was February 8th and that was close enough for us to not want another day of Forced Romantic Schmoopyness right away, so we skipped Valentine's Day entirely or gave each other deliberately cheesy gifts. One year I literally gave her a bunch of cheese.
Sometime last week the morning show we listen to on the radio was discussing gifts you should never, ever give to your beloved for Valentines Day. The list was pretty run-of-the-mill - full of I've-heard-this-before items and dumb jokes. So, you know, like every other morning radio show in the country. And yet I have nothing else to occupy my brain while I dry my hair, so I continue to talk back to the radio. I'm ranting about how this is the dumbest list ever, because if you're going to give someone a gift it needs to be something THEY want, and not everyone wants the same THING, dammit. Their example of The Worst Valentine's Day Gift Ever was a KitchenAid Mixer, which T knows I lust after regularly.
Me, muttering in the general direction of the radio: I would love a KitchenAid mixer! And I have no desire to receive flowers! Bite me, contrived radio show segment!
T: *Continues ignoring me*
Fast-forward to Saturday, the day before Valentine's Day. I had worked a long day and a longer week, nearly 70 hours of work in six days. After work on Saturday I had gone out to run errands and managed to procure cat food and groceries despite long since having lost my will to live. I was tired and cranky and still didn't know what I was going to make for dinner except I was positive it was going to involve tater tots because OMG PMS. In other words, I was going to be a delight for the rest of the night.
Then I spotted it. On the counter.
A picture of a KitchenAid mixer, taped to the coffee grinder. My heart skipped a beat. Intriguing. Was it...just a picture? Was it a hint of a real mixer that was on the way? I got a little fluttery and excited as I turned to T.
"Did you get me a KitchenAid mixer? FOR SERIOUS?"
She barely looked up from the television. "I thought you'd like the picture, since you don't have a real mixer. Sorry it is purple, I think our printer is running out of ink."
"Oh. Okay then. Haha, nice joke."
I proceeded to mope around the apartment for another ten minutes muttering to myself how that wasn't funny and I've had a long day and of course I didn't expect anything for Valentine's Day but I was so surprised by the picture and I thought was getting surprised by a mixer and now in addition to cranky I was sad about not having a mixer and WAAAH. (See: PMS)
T noticed my moping and tearing up and started laughing at me. How dare she laugh at me when I've got PMS! She rolled her eyes and went over to her desk, where a KitchenAid mixer was hiding.
Best. Valentine's. Day. Eve. Ever.
It isn't often someone can surprise a control-freak like me. I drop hints like anvils and nearly always know what I'm getting and when I'm getting it ahead of time, even if the gift-giver thinks it is a huge surprise. But this? She totally surprised me with something I really wanted and didn't expect. She didn't do it for any reason other than she is nice and she loves me and wanted to give me a special treat in the middle of my most stressful time of year. Really, it had nothing whatsoever to do with Valentine's Day. It is on every list of stereotypical bad-idea-gift list, but it was perfect for me. Thanks, love.
