A Few Thoughts (and some digressions) on Couples Massage...

...but first, a little background that might help the story.

BACKGROUND: 
I am conservative with my money.  I don't like to spend it, and I REALLY don't like watching other people spend it.  Some people look at it as frugal, or even financially savvy.  Some people consider it more along the lines of controlling and tight-fisted.  I'm not pointing any fingers, but...

Hmmm.  Well apparently I am pointing fingers.  But I digress.  Our anniversary is December 23rd.  Every year, I feel pangs of terror at the thought of spending any money to celebrate this event whilst otherwise engaged in a hefty amount of holiday spending.  So I devised a brilliant plan .  I thought, let's piggyback our anniversary onto Valentine's day!  I also dislike money wasted on things like flowers and chocolates, but if we planned a really fantastic night out once a year, we could kill two birds with one stone AND maybe have a nice time! 

See how fun it is to be married to me?!

MORE BACKGROUND:
So here we are, February 14th, and we're ready to give this a try. Kudos to a remarkably patient man who happens to call me his wife, because this is all fairly ridiculous in his book. But he loves me, and does his best to roll with the insanity brilliant logic . He decides to schedule a couples massage for us, followed by dinner at one of our favorite Mexican spots. I am a massage junkie. There was a point when I was good enough to get my insurance to pay for twice monthly massages. They eventually cut me off, and it's been a difficult road ever since (tight-fisted: cannot justify monthly indulgence). My man has only ever had a real massage once, and it was poorly done, so this was a big deal for both of us.  In the hour before we leave, my oldest son reminds me I had agreed to some social plans he'd made earlier in the week.  Uhhh... there goes my babysitter.  I glance nervously at my man, who makes no effort to hide his irritation.  No worries, right?  It's just a short night out.  The two younger ones can handle 2 hours home alone.  In comes the middle child.  "Mom! I'm going to pack my stuff for the sleepover tonight!"  Huh?  Ohhhhh yeahhhh... riiiiight... forgot about that one too.  Which leaves the youngest child home alone, and that's a no-go.  I try to look out of the corner of my eye at my husband,  hoping to see him chuckling amiably at my silly forgetfulness.  Yeah, no.  I see that look that means, "I gave up our anniversary because you're insane and can't spend money at Christmas.  I gave up buying you chocolates or flowers on Valentine's day even though I enjoy it, also because you're insane.  Now here I am, trying to celebrate our Valeversary and you can't remember to keep one of our two free babysitters from making plans for TWO HOURS?"  (there was love behind the look, don't get me wrong.)

THE ACTUAL STORY I'M TRYING TO TELL:

I called my awesome friend Melissa, and basically pawned our daughter off on her. Crisis averted.  We got in the car and made a conscious effort at genuine smiles, ready to salvage the evening. We arrived at the spa, and got settled on our tables.  I wondered if it would be weird.  I kept peeking over at him being massaged by some stranger, and I felt neither jealous nor turned on.  He looked so comfortable and relaxed, that I just felt happy for him.  We ended up having an amazing night, and I recommend a couples massage for anyone who has considered it.  And that's really all I had to say.