A Valentine’s Day in the 80’s!

Eyes still stuck together with sleep, hungry eyes blasts absurdly loud for a Saturday morning, I’m sure it must still be before 9am. I see him throwing balloons from the door, prancing almost fairy-like in and out, in and out, throwing purple, pink, yellow balloons all the while Eric Carmen sings his famous 1988 hit. Next comes the glitter, and the streamers in a spray can, I remember the smell vaguely, I remember the feeling more; wet at first, then dry, stuck. More than that I remember his face as he jumps back into bed with me. After I’m done laughing I enquire of the time, 7:30 he says.

My baby has prepared for me a day so rare, reminiscent of an era I adore; the 80’s! He’s compiled a large box full of 1980’s paraphernalia; from sweets and drinks that were popular, to the inspired fashions and cinema. Amongst many things, an electric blue midriff baring shirt with tassels for arm sleeves with the caption “All I want is a sunny day” in white cursive. Brilliant.

For excellent, albeit cheesy, viewing pleasure, he has gotten his extraordinary hands on Some Kind of Wonderful, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which sees Sean Penn as you are unlikely to see him now, a stereotypical surfer dude, Valley Girl with doe eyed Nicolas Cage, Mystic Pizza, one of Julia Roberts’ firsts, Who’s that Girl, Madonna’s that girl, Footloose and Xanadu, a musical with Olivia Newton John.

80’s horror movie posters cover almost every inch of the room... and the 80’s hits keep coming, much to my amazed delight. His plan is simple, we are to eat sweet things and watch 80’s cheese all day and for dinner he is making, from scratch, pizza from my favourite overseas pizzeria, Pizza Hut, he found their secret recipe. I wonder if he knows he hatched the most unbelievable day, my perfect day.

Sometime between breakfast and Valley Girl, the door bell rings and he hands me the keys, it’s for me he says. Hesitantly I take the keys and open the door where I am greeted with the most beautiful white orchid I have ever seen. I can’t believe he is mine.

For someone to know me so well, for someone to create a day that far exceeds any other, for me, is beyond description. He was always beyond mere words and continues to astound me as the months go by. My territory, my life.