Romantic as a rock

Seth and I don't do romantic stuff, like exchange foot rubs and back massages.  We don't usually buy Christmas, birthday or Valentine's gifts for one another.  We rarely surprise each other with candy or flowers.  We are decidedly unromantic, at least conventionally.   

If we do buy candy, the purchase is a result of careful consideration and collaboration.  For instance, we thoughtfully discussed if we should buy the bucket of Jelly Belly's at Costco.  (No, we should not.  But let's.)

Flowers arrive rarely and randomly, and are from me, to me, though I have had Detroit Redwing players send me flowers upon the team's arrival to the playoffs, and I have had Detroit Tiger players deliver bouquets on opening day.  It's possible those were from Seth, but I like to pretend they were from Sean Casey and Tomas Holmstrom.

My idea of a romantic gesture is to make sure Seth always has apples and clean white t-shirts.  So not so much romantic, but more of a daily affirmation that I love him and think of him.

I thought really hard for several days, and I came up with "Seth's Top Five Most Romantic Gestures or Gifts Because Ten is Way Too Many".  And here they are:

5.  He bought me the perfect necklace for our wedding day, after I'd gone shopping and spent $7.00 on a fake that would most probably turn my neck green.  I was in tears when I opened the box.  It was an unbelievable gift, given in such a simple way.  I was putting sheets on the guest room bed, and he walked in and said "You deserve real pearls on your wedding day."  Well, I started sobbing, and I think it's safe to say that he was not expecting this very girly reaction from me, which must have made him quite uncomfortable, which made him resort to smirkily reciting the time-honored, and oh so classic "pearl necklace" words of wisecracks.  So it was more like half romantic, half 'I'm about to marry a 14 year old boy who makes crude jokes at inopportune moments.' I think it still counts.

4.  From April through October, when I drive to Michigan (or any trip that takes more than an hour), Seth makes me a list of all the good baseball games that'll be on XM radio, including the times and the stations. Not romantic for everyone, but makes me swoon.

3.  Once, when I returned from an out of town trip late in the fall, I arrived home to find that Seth had gotten all* of my Christmas** boxes*** out of storage**** for me. 
         * At least 15.
       ** He HATES Christmas.
     *** Boxes = 30 gallon totes.  Heavy, awkward totes.
  **** Lugged from 15 stories below our apartment.  In an elevator, but still.  Long hallways.

2.  He always, always says "Goodnight, babe.  I love you." before he goes to sleep.  Even if I'm already sleeping (or he thinks I'm sleeping, which is how I know about this).

1.  When I'm sick with a head cold, he makes me a special garbage bag for used tissues.  It's a paper grocery bag placed inside of a plastic grocery bag.  It's a very bizarre thing to do, but it's one of his ways of taking care of me, and it sure feels nice. 

I am glad today, and every day, that I married my best friend.  I'm glad that we care for each other in small ways daily, instead of in big ways quarterly.  I'm glad that we both love baseball.  And camping.  And cards.  Or we'd both be married to other people.