Romance has kicked the bucket

So, in honor of this oft-despised (yet generally over-appreciated) holiday, I thought I would share these verses I wrote the year before Daniel and I started dating. Enjoy...

A Cautionary Tale

Romance has kicked the bucket
Just when she was wanted most.
While waiting for the coroner
To tell us what the causes were,
I'm nearly...almost...yes, I'm sure:
Cupid gave up his ghost.

Young men and ladies weep now!
Search your closets, dress in black.
Black coats and dresses, slacks, and gloves.
O lovebirds, turn to mourning doves,
For I just heard that Puppy Love
Died of a heart attack.

Now hear this--even sadder!
When I thought the worst was over,
I was stricken with the blues.
At 6 o'clock, the evening news
Left my poor heart quite soundly bruised.
Guess who died? Russell Stover.

There is no joy in Mudville.
Alas! No sun will shine.
I'm told the blame, in whole or part,
From mournful end to wretched start,
Lies on the lonely, single hearts
Scorned by St. Valentine.

The theory that I've heard from
My old neighbor down the hall
Is that the fates of the departed
Were met when singles, brokenhearted,
Simultaneously pity-partied
Till they killed 'em, killed 'em all.

(The moral of this fiction--
Be it sober, steep, and scary--
Is, though you want a Valentine
So much, your poor heart peaks and pines,
And though you're single--as am I...


...Please don't hate February.)

***

I actually forgot that Valentine's Day was coming up until Daniel mentioned it on Saturday. Thus, I did not remember to ask the manager at my night job if I could have the night off to celebrate.

I know. Bad wifey.

Especially since this is a special one: our first Valentine's Day as husband and wife. That's a big one, right? Well, fortunately, I have a very understanding, very flexible employer and he took my name off the schedule as soon as I told him what happened.

And thus began the last-minute scramble for date plans. The dinner reservation has been made and we have agreed to exchange gifts next weekend...y'know...since I forgot to buy him a present, too. (Man, I'm a winner. Lucky he loves me so much, or I'd be toast.)

Daniel and I are returning to the site of our first Valentine's Day date this evening: Benihana. I've only been there one other time, and that was the night Daniel popped the question. I'm quite excited about this.

I hope all of you enjoy your evening, whatever your plans entail (Several of my single friends are enjoying ladies nights in, complete with margaritas, chick flicks, pajama bottoms, and other single buddies. Not a bad alternative to flowers and candy, if you ask me).

Be loved and loving, blessed and fulfilled, happy and well today. And may the great Lover of your soul make his presence known to you on this day that celebrates His greatest attribute.

Happily Ever,
Ashley Michele

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-11)