Do you believe in love?

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I will admit I have been lucky in love.  Since I was 15, I've only actually spent one Valentine's Day without a Valentine.  *not meant to sound obnoxious but probably does*

Actually, the year I was single I had one of the best Valentine's Days with a male friend of mine.  We gave each other the most obnoxious cards we could find, took each other out for dinner and plenty of wine, told worst date and aren't you glad you didn't end up with so & so, stories.

I think they start putting out the Valentines stuff right after Christmas now, followed closely and overlapped slightly by Easter.  The cards, the big shiny hearts, the chocolates, the 'what will you surprise her with this year' ads, and on it goes.  Drives me nuts.

Every year I say I will not get sucked in to the madness, yet every year I end up getting Mr. J (my Valentine for the last many years) a card and some chocolates.  And every year, despite my claims of it's a made up holiday, I hopefully look for the card in the big red envelope and/or flowers, chocolates, whatever.   Hypocrite much?

I think love is found in many forms & places.  Whether it be with a romantic love, with family or friends or doing something you love.  Maybe it's just meant to remind us to take a moment to cherish and acknowledge those people/things that mean something to us.

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So on that note, other than the people in my life, these are a few of the things I love:

Rainy days
An amazing meal
The perfect gin & tonic
Laying in the sun reading a great book
Comfortable clothes
The golden hour just before sunset
The smell of puppy breath
Our fabulously comfortable bed
Coming home
Sour Cream & Onion chips
Laughing until your head hurts
Watching the ocean
Back rubs
Sleeping till my eyes open

How about you, what are some of your loves?  Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?