By: Revanche

Rediscovering romance in Thailand

May 7, 2011

“I know you’re not much of a romantic but …” as a friend outlines a proposal for our travel plans.
“I think this room/hotel is a bit romantic for friends just sharing rooms …” (same friend)

At first I’d be inclined to agree that romance isn’t precisely my forte since planning this trip to Thailand with alone time factored in didn’t occur to me. Then I kept looking around the hotel room in question and couldn’t figure out the least romantic thing about it.  Clean lines, 1940s-era modernist, more amenities than I’d seen in a week, kind of cute with the vase and a flower on a twig thing… but romantic?  I just didn’t see it. 

Perhaps the reality is simply that my (our) romance radar just isn’t tuned by the same fork as the general public’s.  PiC agreed that he didn’t see anything inherently romantic about the rooms we’d booked for ourselves and our friends.

What IS romance?  I’m not weakened in the knees by sparkles and flowers, grand gestures and sweeping statements. They’re pretty to look at, and make me smile, but they’re window dressing. What really defines romance?

My romance is over six years of being awakened by “Good morning, I love you” nearly every day, long distance notwithstanding.  My romance is my partner who picks up the heavy burdens when I really need the help but don’t want to say so.  My romance is my partner who trusts my capability to get things done even after I’ve shown weakness. My romance is a man who lets me change his channels even if he’s watching something and cooks for me when I’m tired.  My romance is traveling with PiC on a nearly unplanned adventure with my friends he’s spent little to no time with before and spending even the frustrating moments of it laughing together.

My romance on this trip is asking PiC where the soap is, having him hand me water instead and start using the soap himself, then both start laughing so hard at the look on my face until we cried.

What’s your romance?

11 Responses to “Rediscovering romance in Thailand”

  1. Romance is definitely all the thoughtful little things.

    Like, I’d been mentioning how my mom used to make hamburgers differently than we do– she added egg and breadcrumbs and onion. So he made those for dinner last night.

    It’s not flowers or candles or dim lights or jewelry, unless that’s something the other person really enjoys.

    It’s saving the last piece of something yummy so your partner can try it too. It’s folding laundry together. Or taking the load off when your partner is down, or even when ze’s not.

  2. Sabrina says:

    I’ve never heard romance described in just this way. I’m so happy that you two found each other and stuck it out during the LDR days. May your romance continue throughout your life together!

  3. Bear’s most romantic thing he ever said to me?

    “Next time I’m in town, I’ll treat you to All-You-Can-Eat sushi.”

    I literally swooned. <3

    Thus food = romance, sex & all that junk to me. 😀

  4. My romance is everything you just described it to be. I had goosebumps ahahahahha.

  5. This made me smile 🙂

    I definitely agree that romance is all the little things, the surprises, the helping without being asked.

    Or, last night when we were watching the Red Wings and I said the Tim Hortons Ad made me want donuts, hubby jumped up and said “come on the nearest donut shop closes in half an hour”. Haha…for us food is romance too, I guess 🙂

  6. My romance is getting hugged tight every morning and being told “I love you”. Or when we’re walking and suddenly he’ll grip my hand tighter and say: “I love you. I’m so happy we’re together.”

    Best. Ever.

  7. Shelley says:

    All those things you said. Currently it’s Bill doggedly figuring out computer problems and helping me interpret tax forms – talk about tackling two hard things at once! Your sweetie sounds like a really nice man; I’m pleased for you.

  8. My romance is the simple stuff as well. Reaching out to hold my hand while we’re sitting and watching tv, just because.

  9. […] eemusings hates Valentine’s Day. I don’t need a day to tell me to tell PiC I love him, we do that anytime, anywhere. […]

  10. […] mentioned before, we’re not your normal romantic people so the usual sentiments aren’t really my bag. I can’t remember when we actually chose […]

  11. […] said before, the truest path to my heart is not through opening the wallet, but through the little things that say you’re in this, together and wholeheartedly, whether that’s in a semi-crappy […]

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