Valentine’s Day feels different this year. I am sure all of us are saying that right now.

While my husband and I stayed in today, we see the remnants of yesterday’s sleet outside our window.

Today is a day of lovers. Because of that, I am using today’s post to reminisce about the honeymoon Fred and I took September 2019.

We went to the city known for lovers — Paris, France.

We took the honeymoon six months after our March 2019 wedding. We were originally going to wait until March 2020 but I am glad we did not.

We chose Paris because my dream of a honeymoon in Puerto Rico was ruined because they were still reconstructing after their recent hurricanes.

Fred loved French class in high school and always wanted to go to Paris. I thought why not? Neither of us had been out of the country before.

I am sorry to post this public service announcement, but this needs to be said. Our parents and family members voiced to us this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Paris. My beautiful black people — or other people of other backgrounds — going out of the country should no longer be thought of as a once in a lifetime event. There are too many resources these days that make going out of the country more feasible than in the past. This is not a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Now that the PSA is over, we chose around the time of my birthday for the honeymoon — mid-September.

We found decent round trip airplane flights for September 11. We took the flight after I worked a half day at work, and then we landed in Paris the next day (their time). I can give you the details of the trip later, but I want to voice the romantic stuff we reminisced about.

We went to a chocolate shop, probably dropped three pounds walking up the Arc de Triomphe, and we saw Paris at night.

I know our photos probably look photoshopped (Fred’s Android is dope), but we were actually in another country. Fred spoke French a few times we were there. The natives of the area would say, “My English is bad but do xyz.”

Fred and I would walk out the shops and say, “Their English was fine.”

Yes. We went to Château de Versailles (Versaille Palace).

Yes. We ordered a ferry ride, but that ride never happened that night.

Yes. I had the best croissants I have ever had.

No. We did not put a “love lock” on Pont des Arts. There was a strike when we went to the City of Love that week. So we now have to go when we get the chance to go back.

I know at that time Fred and I were in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. However, this Valentine’s Day I must say I love him more than I loved him on our wedding day and during the honeymoon.

Let me close this post with a video I filmed during our honeymoon.

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day memories? Did you create new ones this week?