I mentioned on this blog the other day that my spouse’s battle with toxic effects on his limbic system due to the long-term illness from which he suffered made our Valentine’s Day rather difficult.

The Spouse regretted that, and made up for it by…

…surprising me yesterday with some very tender and sweet actions.

Context: I was doing some volunteer work in the community yesterday, which required visiting some homes of senior pals, picking up and dropping off paperwork for their individual tax returns.

I offer to prepare tax returns for my senior pals using a software program that does that rather conveniently, quickly, and well.

While I was out of the house running these drop off/pick up errands, the spouse:

* arranged for flowers to be delivered while I was away

* made a home-made “I Love You” sign and hung it in our entry foyer

* changed clothes to wear those leather jeans that I find so attractive on him (woof!)

* gave me a Valentine card for the husband — I have no idea how he arranged to get that since he doesn’t drive and has not been out of the house and out of my sight for several weeks — but he did. The words on the card were perfect, reflecting his love and affection for me, with hand-written words thanking me for my love and patience.

* prepared (as best he could) our evening meal — something he knows that I would enjoy (broiled steak and baked potato) while he prepared his own meal of foods on his restricted diet. He can’t eat steak because he can’t chew food until he gets tooth implants where he lost teeth due to that illness.

* queued up a sweet, romantic movie, which we watched after dinner. He held me… just held me… which I love so much.

None of these things were extraordinary, but made me feel special and loved.

Despite the turmoil that this disease has wrought, I know — I just know — that love abides, whether the biblical verse: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things or whatever poetry one may cite. The foundation of our relationship is strong and will always be.

Life is short: show those you love how you love them.