Be My Valentine

We rarely miss an opportunity to have dinner at our favorite restaurant for Taco Tuesday. Not only is the food delicious, but we frequent the place so often the staff knows us by name and expects whatever shenanigans we inevitably bring.

This Tuesday was no exception. They seated us upon arrival and promptly delivered our drinks and guacamole without having to take our order. As we all took a sip of our refreshing beverages, I had a flashback to one of my favorite TV shows: Cheers. Knowing my kids would have no idea what I was talking about, I explained that we were very lucky to have a place to dine where everyone treats us nicely and knows our names (all the while singing the words to the theme song in my head).

Sandler couldn’t agree more and added how “beautiful and sharp” his favorite server is. Just as he was complimenting her, she came by to offer him a refill — confirming his affection. After taking a break from chugging his soda and finishing his taco, he exhaled a big sigh and said he wanted to discuss Valentine’s Day.

It was quite obvious that he was not only quite smitten with the waitress, but also thinking the up and coming holiday may be his golden opportunity to ask her out on a date. Again, Sandler doesn’t see differences, so the fact that she’s a good thirty-five to forty years older than him is not a deterrent. He was going to make her his Valentine.

He kept calling her over every chance he could, ordering more food until I finally cut him off. I tried to explain that she was busy and needed to help other customers, but nothing I said could get him to take his eyes off of her. Finally he turned to me and said, “Mommy, I’m ‘weally’ nervous… but I’m going to ask her to be my Valentine.” My heart warmed and palpated at the same time. On one hand his sentiment and confidence were so endearing, but on the other, our waitress was going to be caught off guard with an unpredictable question from a twelve year old superfan.

When she returned to drop off the check, he mustered up the courage to ask the big question. With a look of flattery, “Of course I’ll be your Valentine!” With that he threw his arms up in victory—knocking over his entire root beer and basket of chips—confirming: love can be very messy, but it is a wonderful thing.

- Nikki