It has been a tough time since He was laid off the day after thanksgiving. We were fighting like cats and dogs lately, and I was beginning to wonder if we would make it to Valentines day. It seemed every piece of mail or phone call caused Him to want to run away from the world, and Me to end up in tears. At night we dreamed of an island paradise where it stayed a balmy 70 degrees, surrounded by water, like a Jimmy Buffet song. I knew something had to be done soon.
Valentines day was fast approaching, and I knew we wouldn't have much money, but I wanted to do something special for Him. Last year He had been so romantic, buying me clothes and taking me to dinner, and I wanted to do something special for Him. I thought about things for a few days and then finally hit on an idea. If I couldn't take him to the island, perhaps I could bring the island to Him. I began planning, and soon found that it might work well after all.
We have a spare room in our house, one that I use the closet in, or company uses if they stay overnight. I decided that I would turn it into a beach for Valentines day. I would use a wading pool for a little lagoon and cover a plastic tarp in sand. Just so you know, finding a wading pool in February isn't all that easy, and you get strange looks when you ask for one too. Though my friends can certainly come up with some interesting ideas for a pool. I might have to try them sometime. Though how anyone would make that much green jello, I don't know. I finally tracked one down by putting an ad in the local paper. It was just the right price too, free! Things were beginning to look as if they might work out after all.
A trip to wal-mart was next on my list. After all, they have most everything there. Except wading pools in February. I bought seashells and pebbles for my "beach" and sand toys to build castles with. Candles were on sale too, and I bought nearly 100 to light the room. Silk flowers that looked tropical added to my paradise, and even a stuffed parrot, which no Buffet fan should ever be without. The tarp was found in camping supplies, and I bought a Hawaiian looking bra and panties set and a pair of tropical look boxers for Him, all on clearance. They had a card too, that was an invitation to a valentines paradise, how apropos! And I bought chocolate letters that said I love U. I couldn't believe it! I got out of wal-mart for less than 40.00!