whats the strangest thing you ever did for vday

Anonymous asked

A curious query, but one for which I’m afraid I have no particular answer as I don’t recall having done anything exceptional for the sake of that single day. When I’ve wanted to make a partner feel loved, appreciated, special or what have you, I’ve always thought it was best to do so on some other day—on any other day!—than one in which everyone is doing it for everyone else. It frankly doesn’t mean much if it seems you’re only doing it out of the expectations of the day. How much can you really be said to esteem someone if you only think of doing something special for them when some commercial holiday suggests you do? Love your partner, remind them they’re appreciated every day, not just one.

That’s my take, at least.

As for strange, I suppose that depends on what you consider “strange”. Some have suggested much of what I do is “strange”, that I myself am more than a little so. Thinking of a passage I read of Hesse earlier in the day, perhaps I ought to say “unheimlich”.

If, perhaps, you meant or intend to ask only what “strange” things I have done for those I’ve loved, I remain unsure as to which qualify for the term, so I will merely list a few things that were, at least, somewhat uncommon, and from them you may decide which if any meet your criteria. I have often written music for lovers, sometimes simple, casual things, sometimes more elaborate, orchestrated works; a single piece for one,  a few for others; for two, an entire album dedicated and released for each. I have dedicated writing and translations, brief things here or there, sometimes of their favorite author, sometimes lengthier, more challenging affairs. Perhaps for  “weird”, I have dedicated original research work and discoveries in a mathematics journal; I had wondered myself if that was odd before reading Greg Egan and discovering at least someone else out there found it appropriate.

Sharing with Nick Cave his “eratographomania”, at least insofar as it regards the compulsion to try to express or capture one’s feelings for the beloved in writing, I have written far too many letters. Among the more interesting, perhaps, I have written some in classical Latin, ancient (not modern) Hebrew and once made my best, if halting, effort to engrave one in Ugaritic cuneiform, which, it seemed and so I hope, were received with pleasure.

I hope somewhere in my verbiage you find an answer to your satisfaction.