Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. What’s not to like about a day that celebrates love of all kinds with chocolates and flowers? Valentine’s Day is not as much fuss as either Thanksgiving or Christmas, and it slides sweetly into the middle of February, one of the coldest months in Maine. Come to think of it, maybe Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. 

When it comes to politics, I am liberal, but when it comes to chocolates, I am rather conservative. I would never refuse a chocolate, say, flavored with thyme or lavender or topped with salt, but what I really like are old-fashioned chocolates, straight up, with nuts or caramel or toffee in the center. Maple cream is good, too, and so is coconut. 

One of my favorite brands of chocolates is See’s Chocolates, which are not available in Maine and must be ordered. Once, on a business trip, my husband, Clif, brought some home for me, and I’ve been hooked ever since. 

“You know,” I told him, “you never have to wonder what to give me for a present. Christmas, birthday, anniversary. A box of See’s Chocolates will always do the trick.” 

And, of course, for Valentine’s Day. Being a kind and thoughtful husband who does not like to see his wife sulk, Clif ordered me a box of See’s Chocolates for Valentine’s Day. However, even though he ordered them a week ahead of time, the chocolates did not come on February 14th. 

Naturally, Clif had a tracking number, and in this miraculous age of computers, he discovered that my chocolates were in Massachusetts. 

“They’ll arrive on the 15^th,” he said. “Sorry!” 

After having gone through breast cancer surgery and radiation treatment, let’s just say that the last thing I was going to brood about was getting chocolates on February 15^th rather than on February 14^th. 

“Besides,” I said to Clif. “That’ll give me something special to look forward to on the 15^th.” 

All day long I waited, listening for the UPS man and for my dog Liam’s frantic barking when the truck pulled in front of the house. Since Liam is a Sheltie and has been known to bark when a gnat walks across the floor, there were a lot of false alarms, with me hurrying to the door each time Liam barked. 

“At least I’m getting my exercise,” I said to myself after the fourth or fifth time of running to the door. 

Luckily, unlike Godot, the chocolates did arrive. Liam’s barking was especially frantic—trucks really get him going—and when I rushed to the door, there was the box on the porch. Oh, happy day! 

The chocolates came in a red heart-shaped box, which makes them even more special. Quick as can be, I heated up water for tea. After all, what goes better with chocolates than tea? 

Nothing as far as I’m concerned. My first chocolate? A caramel, rich and soft and chewy. And, readers, it was good.