Those who get married on Valentine’s Day, which is not always advisable, would celebrate what I call a “Valentiversary” every year. The “i” in the middle represents a candle signifies the first anniversary. Year two would add be spelled like this: Valentiiversary, as another candle is added. My wife and I have added an extra celebration to our love life called the “Limogesiversary,” occuring on March 28th of every year. I presented her with her first Limoges box on that date in Bloomington, Indiana where I went to school at I.U. Each year since I’ve tried to add another one to her collection, not to mention other holidays. It’s become the gift of choice though the years, accompanied by a poem hidden inside its hidden hinged compartment.

Christmas this past year was the first time in our relationship that I was instructed not to subsidize her Holiday collection, since the display box was full and we no longer have the storage space.  I also decided to combine Valentine’s Day and the March “Limogesiversary” into one, creating our own first “Valentiversary.” This was because she added a custom necklace to her list of needs. This has become Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and our Wedding Anniversary, with a unique, personalized charm added for each occasion.  The Limoges has suddenly taken a back seat, but she still wants to commemorate each of our trips with a painted porcelain memory. For example, the Sphinx and Great Pyramid are part of our travel plans this year, and both have a Rochard designed box.  Plus, we’re also traveling to Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Arizona, and Bali in the next few months, so she’ll probably be urging me to buy some of the landmarks associated with these locations. 

I was in a bit of a gift conundrum, between the necklace commitment and the Limoges Box tradition. As a result, I bought the low-calorie porcelain Valentine’s Cupcake box that she had her eye on, but will present it in January to honor both annual opportunities to express my love. Here’s the poem that I will include:

Valentiversary 

We’re cutting back,
To save, my dear.
We’ll double-up,
On gifts this year.

Income has slowed,
We’re both retired.
More traveling for two,
Has us both inspired.

This Valentine Limoges,
Must last two months.
And somehow satisfy,
Month of March wants.

Our Twenty-First annual,
Limogesiversary.
Has been re-titled,
Our first Valentiversary.

Two celebrations,
Are treated as one.
Porcelain cutbacks,
Have officially begun.

This doesn’t mean,
I love you any less.
Marry Me Again?
Please say…yes.

What started with a blanket,
On a Bloomington hill.
Was put on a December hold,
Because you had your fill.

You requested this cupcake,
Then the necklace came along.
I didn’t think you’d mind.
Is combining gifts so wrong?

Vegas with my QDPie,
Is a Valentine bonus.
It’s a winter break.
For just the two of us.

It’s our Honeymoon spot,
Where love is in the air.
It’s when we became,
The Perfect Pair.

We’ll explore the Grand Canyon,
And the Neon Graveyard.
See Manilow and Michael,
Plus play the winning card.

Then it’s off to Arizona,
To soak-up more sunshine.
Leprechauns and baseball,
Rather than a Rochard design.

It’s a matter of priorities,
As we add to your collection.
I’ll focus on travel boxes,
To show my growing affection.

Happy Valentine’s early,
And Anniversary too.
I can’t tell you enough,
How much I Love You.

Copyright 2020 johnstonwrites.com