Just got home from a movie and dinner with my husband (our dates usually end around the time our kids are getting dressed to go out).
We’re very happily married, and honestly, I don’t think either one of us could define how much of that is pure luck, and how much is the result of all the work and all the years we’ve put into it.
Like many guys, Dempsey thinks Valentine’s Day was invented to put pressure on men. He’s spent his whole adult life figuring out how to express his feelings, and once a year he’s supposed to meet totally arbitrary social expectations.
So we keep it low key, and just have some fun. Some years we give gifts, some years not. We’ve gradually found our own way to take note of February 14th.
I think every relationship does best when the people involved put aside all assumptions, and just negotiate what they want from each other… when they relax, enjoy and treat each other with simple respect and honesty.
Your friendship and your interest in my work is a source of great pleasure for me, and I am very grateful for you. On this Valentine’s Day, I’m sending you my love and appreciation.