Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a big fan of Valentines Day. I forget about it almost every year until I’m gently reminded by my wife. Usually the reminder sounds something like this; “So, what did you get me for Valentines Day?”.

For the first couple of years of our marriage, I would shake off this question by explaining that I, the enlightened Justin M. Stoddard, really didn’t think much of Valentines Day. Isn’t it, after all, an invented holiday by the greeting card companies? Doesn’t it give them the perfect excuse to market those cheesy cards that always start out like “For my Wife on this Special Day” or some other sentimental crap?

Let me tell you, this thought process really didn’t go over very well. So, I adapted. I bought the roses, I bought the flowers and yes, I even bought the chocolate. Although I’m sure Tiffany appreciated the gesture, I have the feeling it rang hollow with her since the feeling wasn’t there as well.

Ok, let me make up for some of it right now while I proclaim to the world at large: I LOVE YOU TIFFANY! Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for picking up my dirty socks off the floor. Thank you for not yelling at me when I leave my boots in the middle of the floor every single day, even though you ask me not to more than twice a day. Thank you washing the clothes to ensure I have a clean undershirt to wear to work every day. Thank you for taking care of our little girls throughout the day. Thank you for not sighing too much every time I ask you where this or that is, even though I just put it down two minutes ago. Thank you going through the agonizing effort to pay the bills every month. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GO SEE A MOVIE WITH ERIC ON VALENTINES DAY!

Most of all, thank you for well, just being you. We’ve stayed together for nearly 8 years now with no end in sight (thank God). I love you honey, I really do.

And Eric, that was a terrible joke dude.