The Notebook
I remember back in my single days when I would watch other couples celebrate a 2 month or 10 month anniversary. I would chuckle to myself and wonder “What’s the big deal? It hasn’t been that long?” Now I’m part of one of those couples. While I thoroughly enjoy romance and surprising Vanesa, I have to admit that getting geared up for our 4 month anniversary on Wednesday wasn’t easy at first. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate her, it just seemed a bit petty compared to the big scope of marriage for years and years. What made me enthusiastic about the day was listening to her anticipation. (I’ve come to the conclusion that I will never be able to understand the full intensity of a woman’s love and devotion. Although I love Vanesa with all my heart, her feelings sometimes make me feel like I only have a schoolboy crush).
The romantic ideas weren’t coming too readily at first and I was frustrated. Then it hit me! I don’t remember exactly how it started, but it’s been at least since February. I can’t sing to save my life, but one day Vanesa wanted me to sing something for her. The only romantic song I could think of was My Girl by the Temptations. She’s been in love with the song ever since and falls to pieces whenever I sing it in the apartment or walking down the street. So Tuesday night I put together a black and white picture of us alongside the lyrics of My Girl. (Sometimes being a computer geek pays off handsomely). Wednesday I printed and framed the pic and made a handmade card out of yellow and lilac card stock that would match the color of her flowers. Finally, having gotten myself excited about the day and feeling especially romantic, I rented The Notebook (Diaro de una Pasión en español) and ordered pizza.
It had been something like 2 1/2 or 3 years since I last saw that movie. I remember watching it in the cheap theater with some friends and being mesmerized afterwards. We went to Perkins to eat and talk about how we wanted our future relationships to be that passionate. The love portrayed in The Notebook was the intense romance I had always longed for but figured would forever elude me. I assumed I would be forced to settle down with some woman that, while she would love me, wouldn’t be the love of my dreams. While a lot of people like to talk about romance and wish they had more of it, there are few who actually do something about it and some who are even scared of it. I though I was destined to be one of those wishful thinkers. Then I met Vanesa…
Vanesa showed up that night lovely as ever in a black dress. I hadn’t told her anything about my plans, so it was a great surprise. We sat down to our ham and red pepper pizza and watched the movie. The sniffles and tears clearly showed Vanesa loved it. We cried together afterwards as I told her how she was the love I had been dreaming of and waiting for my whole life. The card, the picture, and the willingness of a guy to watch a romantic movie with his girl all made her feel very special, cared for, and appreciated. I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful evening.
