Here are tiny packs of chocolate my cousin sent all the way from Pennsylvania. Those are the kinds of chocolates that most Filipinos love to have on their so called "balikbayan package" (box full of imported goods). Last night, I received mine. The sight of the chocolate made me go back to seven years ago when hubby and I were young lovers.
I never thought or expected in my whole life that he could become my husband. I was never attracted to him in the first place and he was the same. We are very much different in so so many ways. Then in a short period of time of knowing each other as friends, we never realized we would fall in love despite the differences from physical appearance to religion.
Going back to seven years ago, when we started as friends ending up to boyfriend-girlfriend, I remembered we would never go out on an expensive date and never have I asked him to take me out. Remembering from the chocolates I have just received, my boyfriend before never forgot to give me a handful of imported chocolates. I was overwhelmed as those are pretty expensive, most young girls love being offered expensive gifts, although I am not one of those. As I started enjoying my goodies, he would confess that he got those from a balikbayan box and then later on as I checked the wrappers names are written. Those chocolates belong to someone else! Lol! Pretty funny but hubby explains to me that he asked for his cousin's share so that he could give it to me. Only those cousins who don't like to eat chocolates.
Hubby was still a student and I was an office clerk at that time, so I really never asked anything. He would surprise me with his own efforts to be able to bring something that could make me happy. We have never watched the cinema together, but wait! He's got a laptop and the latest movie downloads so he goes to my house and we spend the night doing a movie marathon with beer and chips. We're both happy with that simple moment we had.
As the sayings go, "It's the thought that counts" and "Action speaks louder than words". We have never been too vocal with our feelings for each other, but we both know that we have showed our love in a very simple manner, in which I am also very much thankful because he never spoiled me with expensive gifts.
We didn't have a ride back then so we walked our way to where the party was as part of our bonding and exercise. No matter how far it was and how long it would take us to get to our destination, as long as we both have each other. We're both happy and contented and so we ended up getting married.
That's the simplest form of love I could share to you this valentine, I hope you enjoyed my story.
Your story reminds me of my love story of 47 years ago. We were both in the Military. I was in the Navy and he was in the U.S. Coast Guard. We met the Saturday of 1970. 2 weeks later we were Betrothed. Now in the Jewish faith a Betrothal is in many ways more important than a wedding although both are important in many ways. But the reason a Betrothal is more important is that if you decide to NOT marry you must get a divorce. Not many couples choose to do that they just like other young people break up. I mean you can you imagine going to a lawyer and saying I don't want to marry my Betrothed and I need to get a divorce.
Hi Jackie! Thank you for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading it. By the way, is Betrothal something like prenup agreement?
Jackie, I had never heard this, but when reading the story of Mary and Joseph and how he had to decide to marry her it makes the story much clearer. Love your love story. You sure didnt either of you marry for money. LOL.
When we were married almost 2 years, we were living in my husband's hometown and struggling to get by on my legal secretary's salary and his small business.
For Valentine's Day, he got me a bunch of Chunky chocolate bars. This was back when there were Chunky bars without raisins. He didn't spend that much, but I got more chocolate that way than if he'd bought a big candy box.
Just a few days ago, he bought me a large bag of peanut M&Ms, and we'll be married 47 years in May. Since then, of course, he's given me fancy chocolates and cakes and Edible Arrangements.
