It started as Maria Day, but it ended up being my day, too. It ended up being Our day, a kind of unofficial Valentine’s Day.

I took Maria out for breakfast in a restaurant we have come to love and frequent on weekend mornings. It’s sort of a reward for working hard all week.

Maria had an omelet and an English Muffin, and I had a veggie burger on wheat toast with coleslaw.

Afterward, we stopped at an apple orchard on the way to Saratog and bought a bag of apples and some vegetables, dates, and oranges.

Then I took her to have a pedicure at the Nightingale salon in Saratoga Springs. I took Maria for the first pedicure of her life a few months ago, and I surprised myself by getting one for myself.

I’ve had several since then, and I am a huge fan. It’s good for my feet, and restful and fun. The salon was quiet and very peaceful; we both slipped into a dreamy and soft slog.

I asked to have my toes painted my toes three different colors this time. Maria painted hers a dark purple.

We stopped at a supermarket to load up on more vegetables; we eat a lot of them. I got some ground turkey and made a turkey, barley, teriyaki, and vegetable stir fry.

I added vegetable broth and two different sauces, including Hossin.

I even bought a bamboo stir-fry spoon.

It was delicious. We have loved every single stir fry we’ve tried this past month. I skipped the feta cheese this time; we didn’t need it.

Like Maria, I never once thought of getting a pedicure in my life. People are always warning me as a diabetic to be careful about pedicures, my food doctor loves the idea, and I have come to love it myself.

They have always been conscientious about using boiled and wrapped utensils, and I told them about my medical condition.

They are cautious, and they make my feet healthier every time.

We have both come to appreciate pedicures; they are soothing, relaxing, and very calming.

It turned out to be a lovely pre-Valentine Day. We both felt so fortunate to have found one another and still live bounded and independent lives.

(I asked to have my toenails painted in three different colors this time –  red, blue, and yellow. I love having my toenails painted.)

We have maintained our respect for one another as well as our love. We can just ignore Valentine’s Day now; our celebration couldn’t have been any nicer. Love is critically important to me, but I don’t want to overdo it either.

Neither of us is particularly sappy.