Valentine’s Day arrived on a Saturday this year, and even though I was thoroughly under siege by a stubborn cold, I somehow found myself awake before 7 a.m., determined to evict winter from the room. Out went the heavy, wintry everything; in came spring — lighter colors, Valentine’s decorations, and the general illusion that sneezing is seasonal décor. It felt oddly triumphant, like staging a tiny coup against February.
I also decided this would be the day to try a “very simple” dessert recipe involving almond flour, almond butter, and chocolate. Naturally, it did not take 15 minutes, nor did it resemble the serene perfection promised by the instructions. The balls themselves behaved, but once coated in chocolate they transformed into something uncannily reminiscent of microscopic pathogens. Still, edible pathogens. Pretty ones, at least to me. Despite my daughter’s committed grouchiness (apparently a key Valentine’s accessory for teenagers), we managed a proper breakfast together, which made the whole morning feel warmer, brighter, and unexpectedly joyful — sneezing soundtrack included.
One of the best parts of the day was working on a collage for Mom’s birthday. I really believed I had cracked it — cutouts placed, magical forest assembled, artistic genius imminent — only to discover the image quality was completely unfit for large-scale printing. Nothing humbles the soul quite like pixels the size of postage stamps. So today became an unplanned crash course in affordable design software that doesn’t cost half a month’s salary. Apparently, conjuring people into enchanted woodlands is technologically demanding.
All in all, this Valentine’s Day felt very different from last year’s — softer, brighter, more hopeful, even through the relentless sneezing. And now there’s something wonderful on the horizon: a ski trip next week, my first in two years. I’m already picturing cold mountain air, sunshine on snow, and the delicious feeling of starting fresh. Here’s hoping the weather cooperates — and that I stop sneezing before takeoff.