Valentine’s Day was no big deal to both Tony and me. As adman and adgal, we hyped this day for our clients to increase brand awareness and sales.
Tony would always say, “I can give you a gift or flowers anytime I feel like it—not necessarily on February 14.”
And so it was.
He would offer to pay for my purchase on rare times that he had accompanied me shopping. Typically, he'd say, "That should take care of my future/past Valentine’s Day gift for you.” Sometimes, he would pluck a flower at our garden and give it to me, which in turn I would ask our househelp to pick a few more for our vase.
That was our version of romance.
As expected, this past Valentine’s Day caused the price of flowers and Valentine's cards soar. As expected, messages of love peppered the Net days before.
What was unexpected was a gift—not from Tony but about Tony—from one of son #3’s master’s students. 
Son #3, thinking perhaps I would treasure it more, gave it to me.
He is right.
This key chain, with his rare solo photo we used for all messages about his last days, I will treasure by itself, without a key . . . because it is an unexpected, thoughtful gift from someone who never knew him but knows his son.
And his (and my) son knows me well.
That was Valentine’s Day, the first one since we saw Tony off on his journey toward Jesus.
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 ESV
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