Food, Hamnet, and Heart-to-Hearts
Yes, Valentine’s Day may be labeled “just another Hallmark holiday,” but it’s also an invitation, and opportunity to intentionally demonstrate love and care to the people who matter most to us.
The day started with coffee in bed compliments of Stan the man. My favorite time of the day. ☕️
When our daughters were little and still living at home, we always did something special as a family. I’d leave a candy bar or a small toy on their beds, along with a card or a handwritten letter. Stan, every single year, would stand in insanely long lines to order a heart-shaped pizza from a local place that has since closed. As they say, “those were the days…” And somehow, we’ve arrived at that stage of life where we say that with both a sigh and a gratefulness.
I almost always bought heart-shaped balloons, along with pink and red ones, to decorate the dining room or kitchen area where we’d have our Valentine’s dinner. This was long before cell phones were really “a thing.” I never even had a Blackberry when they first came out. We took regular pictures — the kind you had to print — and pictures of food? Honestly? I don’t even think that was a thing yet.
And now, our daughters are adults. Stan and I are back to celebrating as just the two of us. We usually choose a restaurant and go the day before or after Valentine’s Day to avoid the crowds… aren’t we fun? 😂
I can’t remember what year was this, but the girls were young, and we had hired a babysitter to attend a church Valentine’s Day event where they had revewal of vows, and a small reception afterwards. Sweet memories.
This year, though, my work schedule left only one option open — and it landed right on February 14th. So Valentine’s Day it was.
A friend recommended a movie that recently came out, Hamnet. It’s not playing in every theater, so we drove a few miles to a cozy art theater built in 1927. Marquee lights. Vintage charm. Not the most comfortable seats, but somehow that just adds to the old-fashioned atmosphere.
I didn’t really know what to expect from this movie, but it moved me in ways I didn’t anticipate.
Hamnet is a historical drama based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell. It focuses on the life of William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes Hathaway, and their family in 1580s England. The story explores the profound grief of losing their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, to the plague — and suggests that this tragedy inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
It is a breathtakingly beautiful film. The imagery alone is stunning. But what struck me most is how it portrays grief — not as a single moment, but as a living presence that reshapes an entire family’s world. The loss at the heart of the Shakespeare family is devastating, yet handled with such intimacy that you are invited to sit inside it… to feel its weight, its confusion, and its silence.
For me personally, it was a reminder that sorrow and beauty are not opposites. Sometimes — often — they exist together.
If you go see it, bring tissues. You will need them.
After the movie, we drove a few more miles to a Polish restaurant we had never tried. It felt authentic and original — food cooked from scratch and absolutely delicious.
Stan and I both ordered a Polish beer. When you sit down, they bring bread with a goose-fat spread — my first time trying it — and it was unbelievably good.
We each had soup. I ordered red borscht with tiny beef pierogis, and Stan had white borscht with Polish sausage and a hard-boiled egg. I’m not usually a fan of hard-boiled eggs in soup, but when we go back (and yes, we’re already planning to 😅), I will absolutely order the white borscht — egg on the side. It was SO delicious.
Stan eating the white borscht soup. 🤤
For our main courses, Stan ordered rabbit. Yes — a whole rabbit. I had never tried rabbit in my life. The meat was incredibly tender and flavorful. Would I order it myself? Probably not. But kudos to Stan for being the adventurous eater. He mentioned he had rabbit once in Poland — over 45 years ago.
I went with something a little safer for me: Hungarian pancakes with goulash. It was excellent — different from other goulash dishes I’ve had. The meat was cut into small cubes, and the sauce paired perfectly with the potato pancakes.
We considered dessert… but decided against it. We were stuffed.
When we got home, I made coffee, Stan made tea, and we settled in to watch Hulu’s series “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.” We managed to watch the first season. While it blends truth and fiction, I think the writers and producers do a beautiful job telling their story. It’s well done and worth the watch.
Stan got me a beautiful card, and gorgeous tulips.
On our drives to and from the theater and restaurant, and even while sitting at dinner, Stan and I had deep, meaningful conversations — the kind that remind me how grateful I am to have a life companion who makes life richer and more beautiful.
And also… someone who fills it with humor, spontaneous comments, and candid sarcasm that makes me laugh out loud when I least expect it. 💕
Valentine’s 2026… thank you. You were a good one. ❤️
