Kitchen Romance

My boyfriend has been a bachelor, living on a farm, and surviving on frozen meals for a very long time. You can imagine the condition of his kitchen, which has been a running joke between us. Days before Valentine’s Day, he was in the kitchen aisle of a big-box store, which is completely out of his comfort zone. As he went through picking up new utensils, towels, and other very basic kitchen supplies, he turned to a nearby shopper to ask a question. During their chat he told her that his little kitchen “upgrade” was a surprise gift for his girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. She assured him he wouldn’t have a girlfriend for long if that was his idea for a Valentine’s Day gift. A little taken aback, he quipped, “Well, I’m getting her some fresh fruits and vegetables, too.” The shopper snorted and continued on her way. He was a little nervous but stuck with his plan. On Valentine’s Day, I received a large lunchbox “big enough for all your Tupperware,” all the ingredients for an abstinent meal, and a kitchen I could maneuver around with ease.

I expressed my gratitude for this unorthodox Valentine’s Day surprise, and he told me how the other woman’s comment kind of scared him a little, but he knew he was dating a food addict in recovery. He figured that abstinent food and a working kitchen was better than flowers that would die in a few days or the traditional Valentine’s goodies—and he was absolutely right!