It's all about the love, Part 3
I said yesterday that I never said "I love you" to the Mrs. Happy until I proposed to her. I did my best to express that through my actions, but I also came up with sort of a euphemistic phrase. Whenever I felt overcome with affection toward her, I would adopt an adoring expression on my face and say, "I'm really glad I met you." It may seem silly outside of the context of the time, but she knew what it really meant. It let her know how I felt without the words I had reserved for the woman I would marry. Later, between the proposal and the wedding, she bought my wedding band and had the jeweler engrave "I.R.G.I.M.Y. 5-23-98" on the inside. This, she said, meant "I'm really glad I married you."
Last night and early this morning, Mrs. Happy and I put our heads together to think of some other phrases that mean "I love you" without using the words. Here's what we came up with:
- "Here, I'll move closer and you can warm your feet on my legs."
- "The Cowboys are playing this afternoon, but I'd rather spend time with you."
- "You make that dress look soooo good."
- "You look like you could use a back rub."
- "You are, without a doubt, the best hugger in the world."
- "You just relax and let me take care of the dishes."
- "You're not feeling well? Let me make you some soup."
- "Let's go see a movie. You pick, I'll pay."
- "You can have the last cookie."
- "You've had a stressful day. Why don't we go out and get some ice cream?"
- "There's no special occasion. I just wanted to give you this <insert sweet gift here>."
- "Yes, that's and expensive outfit. But you're worth it."
- "Happy birthday! I've written you a song."
- "You're so cute when you laugh."
- "Can I take you out to dinner tonight?"
- "You're so beautiful."
- "Your chicken pot pie is the best I've ever tasted."
Keep in mind that these only work if they're based on real feelings and real actions in an established relationship. Saying these things to a stranger can result in glares, slaps, restraining orders, and arrests.
If anyone can think of other things along this line, e-mail them to me (see address at the upper-right corner of this page) and I'll share them with everyone.
