“How many feelings can one heart hold?… Infinite, Luna thought. The way the universe is infinite. It is light and dark and endless motion; it is space and time, and space within space, and time within time. And she knew: there is no limit to what the heart can carry.”
Kelly Barnhill, The Girl Who Drank the Moon
This Newberry Medal winning children's book is on my "to-read" list simply because of this beautiful quote.
Today, my dear, sweet husband and I had a special day celebrating Valentine’s Day. As Valentine’s Day is known as a day of celebration for lovers, we made sure we checked off all the boxes today. This day has never been a “huge deal” to me, as it always seemed perhaps a day of love for those that need urging to buy chocolates and flowers or write out a sweet card for their lover. It seems obligatory and contrived – a Hallmark holiday for “amateurs”.
Instead, I like to think of today as one of spending some simple and special time together, counting blessings, because after all, aren’t all our blessings rooted in love? We decided to jump on the Cape May – Lewes Ferry for a day trip from our beach house in Cape May Beach, New Jersey to Lewes, Delaware! We boarded our special “love boat” mid-morning, where it is docked at the terminal just a couple miles from our house.
It was a beautiful day, so we explored each of the three decks, inside and outside, chatted with fellow travelers, and enjoyed a snack and drink together in the February sunshine. As we lingered at the back of the ferry, we watched the many seagulls swarming, swooping, and “windsurfing” the airflow that followed the vessel. They chirped their happy bird calls, coasted gracefully, and seemed content, just as we were, standing arm-in-arm to keep warm from the wind of travel. It was a lovely start to a special Valentine’s Day, exploring a little town and the many loves in our lives.
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We disembarked the ferry and drove a few minutes into town. It was our plan to walk the streets of the little historic town and enjoy each other’s company. We would visit the shops, gathering up some hand-holding time as we went along. We found a bakery, an antique shop, a used book store, vintage records and gifts, a pet-centric shop, an art gallery, and much more.
As we strolled the brick sidewalks, we shared Valentine’s Day greetings with store employees, fellow visitors, and even an art student painting in oil. We visited with the “shop dog” resting in the doorway of one store, and happily accepted one shopkeeper’s gift of chocolate candy to celebrate the day. We found a delicious and quaint Italian restaurant for a late lunch and bought some flavored roasted coffee, some dessert to go home, and some other little treasures.
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Touch of Italy was a worthy stop! 
This is how the “soup’s made” – both caffeinated and decaf. 
Many, MANY flavors at Notting Hill Cofee Brewery and Bakery 
A classic and tiny Italian deli with many visitors even in the middle of winter 
A late and lovely lunch 
A streetside shop – this one for lunch 
/worth a visit 
As the afternoon sun began lingering lower in the sky, we embarked on the ferry once more and settled in some comfortable seats to complete our little, simple, love adventure. Suddenly, Andy noticed that the motor on the ferry had slowed and our chugging movement across the water was ceasing. Andy thought that perhaps the captain slowed our course because of whales in the area (they had announced sightings earlier in the day). We made our way to the railing at the front of the ferry and there, closer than I imagined it would be, was a whale, showing off for all of us on board.
Amid oohs and aahs, the spout of water could be seen and heard several times. The fin on the back rose in an arch in the water, quickly followed by the flipping and receding tail that followed the beast’s body back into the bay. This little show continued sporadically and fleetingly several times before the magic show of Mother Nature ended and swam back out of our sight. It was spectacular, and I clapped while other travelers quietly cheered, all of us expressing gratitude for the experience. It was as if that whale was sending us his Valentine’s Day love to us all, punctuating the day with a grand finale.
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Today was the perfect way to walk and chat, tease, plan, cuddle, and dream. Sure, there were flowers and a greeting card, but that isn’t what we found ourselves happy about, for it isn’t at all about the Hallmark “holiday”. Instead, it is the way our lives are filled with so much love. We have each other, a tremendous feat in its own right, but there is so much more love to be discovered with each passing year.
Today we texted or spoke with all six of our kids because they certainly crowd the very top of our list of blessings. We gave messages of love to our mothers whom we are still blessed to have with us and thought quietly of our fathers whom we have loved and lost. These important people were the origin of our love experience and must always be acknowledged on such a love-centric day. I sent good wishes to my living siblings, who will likely be the longest loving relationships I will know in my life, and sent a silent hug and hello to all of our lost loves – grandparents, fathers, aunts, uncle, spouse, sibling – because love is eternal.
Far above and beyond all of these blessings of love, there was one tiny Valentine’s treat that was newly treasured by us this year but already has the power to outshine all the others. We have a new, miraculous love in our lives, and it grows larger and stronger every day. As we browsed the used book store, we were reminded of this fresh love in the children’s book section. As we found our seats on the ferry, we felt the pangs of this new love as we watched parents with their weeks-old child. When we strolled and planned our coming travels, we talked about how different life would feel this summer when our hearts were divided yet again by miles of separation from our new love…Because this Valentine’s Day is our first as expectant grandparents!
There is a life growing right now – a little baby girl that we already love immensely and want to know more fully, and yet, we have not yet met. Despite it all, she is our treasure, our future, She is the very definition of the capacity of ever-growing love.
All of the activities of the day played a role in highlighting the importance of reflection. On these special days, I choose to count our blessings and reacquaint myself with the many people and things that give and receive love in my life. I need to sift through them all, smile about them, share them with others, and keep them well. It is when we are good stewards of our gifts of love that we make room for the new and growing love God sends our way.
Little girl, Pop-Pop, and Mormor thought of you a lot today, and we cannot wait to tell you just how much we love you. We will share with you all that we know and love – good food sprinkled with a little shopping, strolls hand-in-hand on a sunny day and rides on the “love boat” to say hello to the gulls and the whales. There is always room for more love in life – you are proof of that – and for me, today was no different. Happy Valentine’s Day, my Sweet.
Safe travels, and may your love grow more lovely each passing year.
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