Surviving Valentine’s and dreaming of a man in a Red Overalls

French-restaurant

There use to be a time that depression would kick in around Valentine's. All that talk about romance, roses, candlelight dinners and the slew of images of beautiful people, happy together plastered on billboards and on TV… Yes Valentine's got my goat, showed me that I didn't have a Valentine, made me feel depressed…

Until I met my French Husband that is.

Dining-room

I remember waking up that first Valentine's morning in France. I could hardly contain my excitement. My head was full of wishful thinking. I leaned over to my newlywed husband and said, "Happy Valentine's Valentine!"
By the look of his face I knew he hadn't a clue about what I was saying.

After I explained what Valentine's meant to me, I learned that Valentine's wasn't celebrated in France.

I was so surprised I pushed him off the bed.

That was over twenty years ago…. 

Candlelight 

Valentine's has never been the same. Sometimes we remember to mark the day, sometimes we don't. It doesn't matter if I receive roses, or a candlelight dinner or sweet trinkets of affection. I am happy even if my boys decide to go skiing on Valentine's day and leave me home alone.

But…. I did manage to say as the walked out the door…. "Happy Valentine's My Lovely Dear Handymen to be!"

They quickly turned around giving me a smirky look and a grunt.

"Just teasing," I said, "Though if a handyman shows up in a red overalls…."

"What is red overalls?" asked French Husband.

"Sexy hot," I laughed.



Comments

22 responses to “Surviving Valentine’s and dreaming of a man in a Red Overalls”

  1. Don’t worry, Corey, someday your Handyman in Red Overalls will come! 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day!

  2. if we ever, ever get to visit you, I promise my ‘dutch husband’ who is a builder will be your handyman while we stay. he may not wear red overalls though. .. get that list ready! xo oh and he speaks english but not a word of french.

  3. My handyman’s red overalls have faded over the years but they were red hot. In fact, dusty pink, they’re still not bad at all!!!!!!

  4. I recognize this place that I love. My favorite room is on the 2nd picture , I love the curtains there,may be because my mum made them ( the fabric is gorgeous).
    You know what I had for valentine’s day . NO you will never guess
    A vacum cleaner …

  5. It’s so nice to feel that confidence in love so you don’t have to worry about the flowers and chocolates. You always know that he loves you. That is enough.

  6. Awwe. Charming Valentines memory. You lucky girl.
    Redneck Junkers

  7. Of course the French don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day…that’s only one day.
    They celebrate love and beauty every day in everything they do, don’t they?

  8. jend’isère

    Reminds me of the kids’ riddle:sunburnt zebra or newspaper both red/read all over. Try it on him to see if your belated birthday gift will be granted?

  9. Life’s expectations soon follow with adaptations when love is involved.
    Your photographs are stunning and invite me in. In fact, I’m going to click on each one for a better look.
    We had a fun, fun Valentine’s Day here. We did a couples date at White Castle and laughed ourselves silly. Life is grand with simple pleasures.

  10. My husband and my children were thinking of love when they brought roses for me yesterday.
    Blue roses.
    I was happy,of course, but thinking why spray these beautiful white roses?
    It kind of made me sad looking at them.
    Actually I dont understand.
    Anyway Corey, I love your pictures. If this is your house, i LOVE IT!!!!

  11. Perhaps next year, for Valentine’s day, you should give French Husband a pair of red overalls. Or, better yet, YOU should wear them! Maybe he’ll get the hint.

  12. Oh my. A French handyman in red overalls. (*fans herself*)
    It sounds like you’ve got the right attitude: being in France and being in love is Valentine’s Day gift enough!

  13. Valentine’s Day was originally a celebration of all kinds of love – most importantly friends and family, so waving your boys off on their ski day is very apt! All love is worth wallowing in.

  14. Beautiful rooms.
    Happy Belated Valentine’s Day!xxxooo’s
    I think I will go buy chocolate at half price!

  15. Marie-Noëlle Roland

    We’ve always celebrated Valentine between us 2- or with our children.
    Yesterday : pink champagne. We exchanged presies. And we took our 3 tenagers (we’ve got our American princess with us)to Paris (Visited Grévin and had a drink in a bar round “Les Folies Bergères”).

  16. Now wouldn’t it be funny if your FH showed up in red overalls and a wrench. I can just picture it. It sounds like you are very happy and that is what counts.

  17. No Shirt, red overalls and No Shirt!

  18. Denise Solsrud

    i know this is so very behind,but i just read the blog where your chelsea was 2 1/2 yrs old and she was in the crib with a bottle and feedind sacha. i thought that was so tender and one of the sweetest things i have ever heard. it was so tender. Bestest,Denise

  19. I just had to chuckle when I read your post today! I then starting picturing some of the farmers out here in my little town in red overalls on green John Deere tractors…hmm…starting to look a lot like christmas…red and green! lol

  20. No V-day in France?! Well. That is because they are romantic all year long.
    🙂 oxoxo
    (miss you , lady)

  21. What a beautiful dining room. Cannot see Y in red overalls but can live in hope ! Will email you later, jxx

  22. Cute Post!!! Red overalls, indeed! I’ve yet to meet a man in red overalls, but if I do I’ll give him a second look! Sherry

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