Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Apparently love
is supposed to be in the air, and everyone loves a good love story. And by
‘everyone’ I mean ‘I do’. Farmers (generally speaking – and I’m definitely up
to you writing to me and proving me wrong) aren’t known for their repetitive
romantic gestures.
I love my own love story. City girl meets country boy. It’s
text book. We got engaged one Easter when my family were out visiting. The
Farmer and I went for a walk out to inspect the empty house dams – completely
decimated by the long term drought. As we sat there and discussed how awful
things were as a result of the ongoing dry seasons, The Farmer reflected that
if I could stand to see this place at its worst, then I would surely love it at
its best. We discussed how things could only get better, and he asked me to
marry him. There was no message written in the sky, or elaborate flash-mob
dance concluding in a romantic proposal. There wasn’t even a bended knee (it
probably would have ended in a burr infection in the joint anyway) or even a
ring. That came later. But it was special to us, and certainly memorable.
I’ve also written before about some of the romantic gestures
The Farmer has shown me over the years. He built me a grid, knowing how much I
loathed getting the gate every day. He once remembered me telling someone how
much I loved picnics, and bought me my own picnic blanket and basket set and
took me on a picnic lunch one weekend. These are only two examples, but I think
they summarise The Farmer’s romantic nature nicely. It’s business as usual on a
farm.
I once read a book about the ‘Five Love Languages’. (The
languages being words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality
time and physical touch). The Farmer is definitely an ‘acts of kindness’ kind
of guy; the grid, the picnic, our garden. I’m probably more of a ‘words of
affirmation’ and ‘quality time’ kind of girl. Our different love languages have
caused plenty of fireworks over the years.
Even though I’m a hopeless romantic, I’m not a huge fan of
Valentine’s Day. It’s truly just another day around here. There’s no big dinner
in town, no flowers, no gifts, not even a Hallmark card. It’s completely
unnecessary around here. Acts of service, words of affirmation and quality time
and do happen at any time of year. Instead of celebrating with gifts, The
Farmer will head off at day break and make his way back at sunset, with some
time at home for lunch. We will have dinner as a family and celebrate each
other. Just like we do most other days.
Do you have a romantic story to share? Head over to my
Facebook page to share! “The Farmer’s Wife”. I’m also on Instagram:
@jessthefarmerswife and Twitter: @jessfarmerswife
