Today is Valentine’s Day. Or, as I like to call it, Tuesday. And no, I'm not making some lame pun about it being "Two's Day." I just mean I tend to treat it like any other day. So if you came here looking for a romantic blog post to celebrate the "holiday," you might want to try somewhere else. You see, I'm the guy who once gave his girlfriend a loaf of bread as a Valentine’s gift. Yes, I said a loaf of bread. And I’m not talking about homemade bread baked with love or some expensive artisanal bread brought back from Brooklyn. I’m talking store-bought, shrink-wrapped Pepperidge Farm French Toast Swirl that you can get for $3.29 (with coupon) at any Stop and Shop.
On the surface, I may not appear be the best source regarding matters of the heart, since, as any of my friends will surely tell you, I am the least romantic person they know. Just ask and they’ll be more than happy to cite numerous examples of my supposed cheap and insensitive behaviors, like how I have never bought a girl flowers, perfume, or even a single piece of jewelry (unless they count the engagement ring - which they will, but only so they can then tell you how small it was and how I ridiculousy presented it to my wife-to-be in that most romantic of settings…a nursing home parking lot!)
But ask my wife (the recipient of said bread and ring) and you’ll get an entirely different story. For her, that parking lot was the perfect place to pop the question, as it forever connected us to her beloved grandmother, who passed away a month before our wedding. And she thought that bread was a very romantic gesture – seriously, she loved it! And the thing is, I knew she would, and that’s what makes me a romantic.
I may not be your “traditional” romantic, but I know enough about love to know that it’s the little things that count. If your significant other needs expensive things to make them feel loved and appreciated, it’s only because they aren’t getting enough of your actual love and appreciation. My wife may not be adorned with jewels, but not a day goes by that she isn’t adored by me! And I don’t wait until February 14th to show and share how much I care, I greet her with a heart on every day!
Sure, every so often I’ll succumb to the pressure and do something “special” on the day. One inspired year, I cut out about 100 paper hearts and wrote little love messages on them. Valentine’s morning, I secretly placed them on the blades of the ceiling fan above our bed while my wife was in the shower. I turned the fan “on” but only after making sure the light switch that controlled it was off, and then went to work. Later, when my wife came into the room and switched the light on, she was showered with dozens of little hearts. Cute, right? And the best part is, it cost me less than a buck!
The point is, The Beatles were right all along. Money can’t buy you love. But on the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to have love, you can’t afford not to show it. 360 days a year (hey, everyone’s entitled to an off-day every now and then.) As for how you do that, it’s entirely up to you. So long as you don’t wait just for the holidays.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the Grand Gesture (and in all honesty, if I had a couple extra grand, I’d be all about hiring airplanes and elephants to carry my messages of love.) But at the moment, I’m broke, so Honey, if you’re reading this, I Love You! And Happy Tuesday!
I'm from Idaho, so that picture on the top looks very romantic to me. :D
ReplyDeleteLove your sentiments, and romance, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. However, I do enjoy celebrating Valentine's Day for the specific reason that it falls smack in the bleak of winter, and is one of those time passage stamps for me - once Valentine's Day has come and gone, it's full steam ahead to Spring. And my Valentine knows that the best gift for me in the bleak of winter is color, so that bright arrangement in my foyer will keep my spirits up for the next week or so every time I walk in the door.
ReplyDeleteHappy VD, Mike and Sarah!