Be My Valentines

A list to look back on in the future, when we have all grown older:

1. For Figgy, a Starbucks card and two chubby vegan brownies from the baker at RedEye Cafe on Walnut Street. Fig said they were really good. I avoided baking and that was hard, so I bought my way to her heart. I can make some raise-the-bar brownies with fine chocolate, Valrhona cocoa and egg replacer [or applesauce]. Had to fight the urge to bake rich trigger foods.
2. For Danny, sage soap on a rope from Chelsea Square in Montclair, plus a cute red felt Hallmark card and a $25 gift card to Shinola. He wants to save up for a watch. I got him a bigger Shinola gift card for Christmas.
3. For Punchy, a beautiful big coloring book from Learning Express—plus the Little Daisy Bake Shop swag I blogged about on Sunday.
4. For Sis, a bracelet of pink beads and luminous, moon-glow pink pearls by Mary Marino, shipped to Connecticut to arrive right on time today, two red-foil-wrapped chocolate hearts tucked in the box. Mary’s pink stands for unconditional love and compassion.
5. For Sugar, nothing but the coos and love that doggy girl gets every day from all four of us. But I could have baked her peanut butter dog bones and wrapped them up with a pink satin bow.
6. For me from Dan, fancy Dolce Federica chocolates made by a woman in Montclair and sold at Java Love [his second home/work office]. They weren’t dense [actually featherlight], so not too guilt-ridden, and I shared them. Also: Red wine at supper. And from me to me and to my family, heart-healthy foods, including fish, chicken, steamed veggies, baked yams and baby spinach.

I miss my parents today and was remembering a little heart box of chocolates my Dad got me once when I was a girl.
Good night.