Orchids and heartfelt words: My favorite gift

I am a music teacher in a public school district.  That's my day job.  I like my job.  But every once in a while, I find something I dislike.  Last night for example.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day.  Normally, I dislike Valentine's Day though as a child I adored it.  I liked the idea that maybe someone would show me affection on this particular day.  As I got older, that hope turned slightly sour and I became bitter aobut Valentine's Day.  This is not uncommon for many people.  Then I met my current significant other and things changed.
Valentine's Day became significant because it's the date we decided to actually date one another.  And while neither of us was ever realy wild about he holiday in general.... we are crazy about each other and the date itself has significance, not so much the holiday that happens to fall on that date. 
Anyways, last night our school held its first round of spring parent teacher conferences.  This means I was here yesterday from 7:35am till 8pm.  On my 2 year anniversary with my boyfriend, who also just recently moved in with me.  Crummy timing to say the very least.  I wasn't too happy about it at all.

I wanted to be home with my boyfriend having a nice dinner and spending quality time together for our 2 year anniversary.  Instead, I sat in a classroom for 4 hours and saw only 3 parents come in to talk to me about their child's education. Once the clock struck 8pm, I was out the door and headed home as quick as possible.
Upon arriving home, I found Lee, my boyfriend, sitting at the dinningroom table with a big grin on his face and our puppy Wynton sitting on his lap.  Both were very happy to see me and gave me lots of kisses.  There was a gorgeous orchid plant on the table as well and a peach piece of paper.  Lee knows I love orchid plants and he's been buying me orchids for special occassions for a while now.  This one is one I had pointed out to him one day and he remembered.  But what the note said was very special.
"These past 3 years have been one heck of a ride and I am better for having gotten on it.  Everyday is Valentine's Day with you."
That might sound sappy but it meant an awful lot to me.  And he knows that sometime having the words in print to keep and hold is important to me.  I can pull that note out any time when I'm having a hard day at work or feeling low about myself.  It is a lovely pick me up.