Sometimes you remember a quote from a television show you watched years ago, when you were a child.
One of mom and dad’s signature shows was titled ‘According to Jim.’ In episode 4 of season 1 (‘Anniversary’), Cheryl, Jim’s wife, gets angry with Jim, her husband, when she discovers that her sister, Dana, not Jim, had picked out their anniversary gifts over the years. She accused him of giving her thoughtless and meaningless gifts over the years.
I mention this now because, like Jim, I find myself in a similar situation. Not the same, but similar. Not an anniversary, but Valentine’s Day.
My girlfriend and I have been dating for several months now. My previous relationships, if you can call them that (most didn’t last long enough for them to develop that far), had been plagued by a combination of my inexperience with women (naivety, I guess you could call it) and being overly eager to move from ‘knowing of her’ to truly ‘knowing her’ intimately. It’s probably safe to say I struggle with moving from being simply friends to cultivating a relationship where love can take root, grow, and finally blossom.
I wanted to get Sophie something for Valentine’s Day that was special and meaningful to her, without being seen as overly aggressive or suggestive. This brings me back to Jim. I wanted whatever gift I gave Sophie to be something she would appreciate. Something showing I was truly thinking of her and what was important to her was also important to me.
Sure, I could, like most guys, take the easy way out. Flowers, a box of chocolates (never heard of a woman who didn't like chocolate), and a nice dinner out. That would be safe, but also the same as every other boyfriend or husband would be doing for their girlfriend or wife. No, I was determined to get something that showed I was paying attention to Sophie, her likes and dislikes. Who she truly was as a person.
Sophie earned her living as a veterinarian. To say she loved animals was putting it too mildly.
From childhood, she had a habit of creating what her parents termed a ‘menagerie.’ Not only did she have her own pets (dogs, cats, and rabbits), but she was also always volunteering to ‘pet sit’ for friends and neighbors going on vacations, etc. As if that didn’t keep her busy enough, she would also agree to take in animals that other people wanted to take to the local shelter, knowing full well that many animals that were taken in by shelters were never adopted but, instead, ultimately euthanized.
At her veterinary practice, she made it a policy to never deny treatment to any animal that was injured or sick, regardless of the owner’s ability to pay. Her clients knew this, and she and her staff found themselves providing treatment and care to wild or feral animals brought in by local law enforcement, animal control officers, or just someone who had found an animal in need of her help.
Yes, Sophie had a heart for animals.
*****
It just so happened that at work, I had a coworker whose Labrador retriever had just had a litter of puppies. He had tried valiantly, sometimes aggressively (perhaps too aggressively, I thought at first) to ‘pawn’ the dogs off on others. He didn’t have the space for that many dogs (especially when they became full-grown), nor could he afford their upkeep (food or veterinarian bills) for long.
“I have to get rid of them soon,” he pleaded. “Can’t you take even just one?”
“If I don’t find homes for them, I’ll be forced to turn them over to the local shelter.”
“You know, that if you give them to the shelter, they’re likely to be put down?” I told him.
Emphatically, he replied, “What choice do I have? I can’t keep them!”
That night, I couldn’t get those dogs out of my mind.
After going to bed, I tossed and turned as the fate of the puppies filled my mind, keeping me from drifting off. Suddenly, I was jarred fully awake.
Ah hah! That’s it! Suddenly, I had an epiphany. Those puppies could be the perfect gift, showing that I, too, understood the depth of her love for animals.
I quickly called my coworker. He was somewhat annoyed by the late hour. (Obviously, his conscience concerning the fate of his puppies wasn't bothering him!)
“What is it, Stephen? Why the late call?”
“I’ve been thinking about what you have been saying about your Labrador retriever puppies. How many do you have, William?”
“Eight.”
“I think I have a solution to your problem. I know someone who would love to have them. Can I pick them up tomorrow morning? Early.”
“Sure, but why the hurry?”
“Well, without going into too much detail right now, let’s just say taking care of your problem will help me with a problem of my own I’ve been struggling with.”
*****
I got up and dressed before heading down to the garage. There, I managed to build a heart-shaped box out of scrap lumber I had lying about. It took me the rest of the night to shape and sand the wood. I wanted everything to be perfect. After crafting what I hoped would be the perfect gift, I hand-painted my creation deep red and applied glitter around the edges of the box, which would hold the puppies. Finally, I managed to squeeze a small pillow on the floor for the dogs to sit on.
The next morning, I called Sophie, wishing her a ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ and asking if I could drop by later that morning. I mentioned I had a gift I wanted to deliver to her, but had a few stops to do first.
The first thing I did was stop at the local florist to get the appropriate flowers. When I told the Florist what I was looking for, her eyes lit up, and she said, “That is such a thoughtful gift,” before telling me, “I have the perfect flowers for the occasion.” Of course, I felt a lot of my anxiety melt away.
After paying for the red roses, I gathered the dogs. Fortunately for me, Will had a cage I could borrow to house the puppies during transport. It was then that it occurred to me I might have a problem getting the dogs to sit still in the box while I delivered it to Sophie.
Don’t worry. Everything will work itself out. Sophie will appreciate the thought behind the gift, not the presentation. Stop worrying. Everything will be just fine.
With the boisterous puppies loudly yelping excitedly in the back of the car, I pulled into Sophie’s driveway, my heart beating faster than I ever remembered.
Rolling down the windows partially to ensure the puppies had plenty of fresh air, I turned off the car. Nervously, I climbed the steps to her stoop before ringing the doorbell.
The few moments that passed seemed like an eternity.
Finally, Sophie opened the door, and the sounds of eight puppies were audible in the background.
Obviously curious, “What are those?” she asked, pointing to the car.
“Those, Sophie, are the gift I picked out for you for Valentine’s Day.”
Bravely, I offered my hand and led her down to the car.
As she peered into the window, with eight overly-excited puppies jumping uncontrollably and pressing their wet little noses and paws against the glass, I told her.
“I didn’t want to get just any run-of-the-mill gift for you this Valentine’s. I wanted to get you a gift you would like that shows you how much your happiness means to me. I hope you approve.”
Espying the heart-shaped bed in the rear of the car, she turned to me inquisitively, but before she could speak, I continued.
“I was hoping to deliver the gift as a ‘Box of Chocolates,’ but, as you can see, I didn’t think everything through clearly enough. It occurred to me as I picked the puppies up that there was no way I was going to get the dogs to sit still in the box.”
“I do hope you approve, Sophie,” I added, obviously nervous.
Moments later, she reached out and pulled me tightly into her embrace. Tighter than I had ever been held by heart.
Needless to say, my heart was racing, and my breathing quickening.
“Approve!” she said explanatively. “I love them. All of them! This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you SO MUCH.”
With that, she gave me a deep, passionate kiss that lingered for several minutes. Longer than any kiss had lasted up to that time.
Afterward, Sophie said, “Now, let’s get those puppies out of your car and into their home.”
Needless to say, Valentine’s Day with Sophie turned out much better than I expected and definitely better than I hoped. We spent the rest of the day getting her new pets settled into her home.
Later that evening, Sophie showed me even more appreciatively how much my gift meant to her.
But that, as they say, is the topic for another story.
