A Truely Happy Valentine's Day... Sunday, February 14

I had my first real Valentine's Day in years.

11 years ago my Valentine proposed to me in the basement of his apartment.  I said yes, he wined and dined me, and then two days later I left the country.  I moved to Korea.  It was such a cliche thing for him to do on Valentine's Day.

9 years ago my Valentine's Day gift from my boyfriend at the time was him finally telling me he loved me.  He wrote it on a hot pink post it note and placed it on a box full of chocolates he had bought the day before.  Yet another cliche Valentine's Day.

In between this year's Valentine's Day and the Valentine's Day of 9 years ago, I really have no recollection of anything special or noteworthy going down.  Those two cliche Valentine's Day of past, well, I can't really complain about them after the long dry spell of lack of attention and celebration that the other Valentine's Day had in comparison. 

This year I needed it to be different.  I absolutely love the holidays -- all holidays -- and they are definitely given due respect and attention here in Canada.  Korea is the party pooper of countries when it comes to holidays in my eyes.  Only the Solar New Year and Chusock (Korean Thanksgiving) really gets celebrated, both holidays I quickly learned I hated as a foreigner married to a Korean husband. 

"But I'm not in Korea", a phrase I tell myself everyday.

This is not Korea.  This is Canada.  Holidays are celebrated here.

This year's Valentine's Day started off with me walking into a place busting to the brim with smiley faces and lots of love, my church -- Ossington Pentecostal Church.  I had arrived early, scored my usual seat and then was greeted with hugs, kisses and smiles from friends and my fellow church goers.

Church was followed by coffee with my funny Valentine, Ginger Spice.

I then spent a chunk of my afternoon at System, surrounded by various Fit Fam members including many of the Asian Invasion Crew and the now-referred-to as the Buff B's Clan -- a bunch of us buff babes and boys who are friends via training at System.

As for my evening, I had reservations at 6pm at the Dragon Horse, a private location owned by that of a local painter.  He had invited me for dinner but unsure about what to cook me as the main dish he cooked two separate main dishes and served me both -- grilled salmon and steak.  I sat and watched as he cooked me my Valentine's Day dinner and sipped on wine as he prepared the meal.  It was nothing short of delish; I loved it and was so very impressed.