The Valentines Day that Almost Got Away

Note: The events in this blog post did not happen. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Wait a minute! I never use names!

There is only one good thing about mid-February, March is around the corner. If you're not shoveling snow and hurting your back, then you're walking around in slush, which tracks into your house and ruins your carpet. It is in the middle of the worst winter weather of the year to put a day of celebrating love. Nice, warm, heart thumping love. Blah! Many people believe that the greeting card companies got together and created a day in the middle of the coldest month of the year, just to sell greeting cards. Well, I'm not buying it! When I have the radio on, I ignore the advertisements. When I have the TV on, I turn off the commercials. Every year I take my wife out to dinner, which I would do anyway over a weekend, I would take him to the most non-romantic restaurant around just so I don't have to see other couples celebrating this non-holiday. Then, after a while, you find a way to censor this stuff out until one day you completely forget the holiday is here.

So, tonight I get home from work, head over to the living room, throw my feet on the couch, an turn on the TV. What a night! Traffic was light on the highway coming home, I had a good day at work, and now my favorite show is coming on TV. As I sit through the commercials, waiting for the theme song of the show, I felt that something was different. I couldn't put my finger on it.

My daughter comes home, holding a teddy bear. I ask, "How was your night?"

"Oh, it was fine. Steven got me this bear because it's .."

I reply, "It's what?"

Remembering that she wasn't supposed to be dating, she replies, "Nevermind!" and she walks upstairs.

I start thinking, "A bear? Why would she get a bear?"

I try not to dive into it too much as my favorite show was coming on in a few minutes.

My son opens the front door with a big grin on his face and says, "I'm in love!"

I reply, "Great., That that s%^t upstairs an don't get any on the carpet!"

My son looks at me and asks, "What are you doing for Mom on Valentine's Day?"

"What do you mean?"

"Valentines Day. You heard of it?"

"Yeah, I've heard of it. That's next month."

"No, it's today."

"What do you mean?"

My son pulled out his cell phone and showed it to me. Sure enough, it's Valentines Day. Also, I didn't have anything to give my wife. Even though I try to forget that there is a Valentines Day, and my wife is ALL about it!

If she could have it, EVERY DAY would be Valentine's Day. Hallmark would have a special Valentine's Day Channel, showing people engaged in Valentine's Day activities (except for the activities that they only show on premium cable ... late night premium cable).

I stand up and say, "Oh s^&t!"

I look at the clock hanging in the kitchen, it's five o'clock.

My wife usually gets home by six o'clock. So, I have one hour to move Valentine's Day from the back room to my bedroom!

I rub my hands together and say, "Time to get to work!"

I take off in the car an head to the store. I run into the store and check the Valentine's Day card section. Maybe a few cards with cats or dogs or hamsters. None that a middle-aged married man can give to his wife. At the end of the aisle, ae a set of blank cards with monkeys on them. I buy them because at least I can write a message on them. Next, I walk a few aisles over for flowers. All of the roses are gone, tulips and fact are most of the flower selection look like it's been ransacked. I walk outside, over to the townhouse community across the street,. On the way into the complex are a few flowers. I walk over, yank out the flowers, then run out the car to bring them home. I check my watch as I am driving ninety miles an hour to go back home. Once at home, I jump out of the car, grab the stuff, an get into the house. Quickly, I wash off the flowers and put them in a vase. Then, I take out a Monkey card, find a pen, and write, "I'm not monkeying around! I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's day. Once I was done setting the card next to the vase and removing the extra dirt from the counter, my wife comes home!

My wife, worn out from a day of work, opens the door and slowly shuffles in.

I yell out, "Happy Valentine's Day!"

My wife asks, "Oh. We're celebrating that?"

"Of course we are."

"Really? I thought you thought it was a holiday made by the greeting card company to sell more cards?"

"Oh no! I know how important this day is for you! So I got you this."

I pointed to the Tulips and the card.

"Thanks? No Roses? Really? Anyway, I really want to get some rest. I had a long day at work

"I understand."

"But, I am sure you set up reservations at a nice restaurant, so let's go out."

I think to myself, "Reservations? Damn it!"

Stuttering, I say, "Oh yeah. Sure. Sure. Let's go!"

We walk out the front door, lock it, go to the car and get in.

"So, where are we going?", my wife asks.

I reply, "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go along."

My wife giggles

I say to myself, "Why is she laughing? I really don't know what I'm doing!"

I start the car and drive to McDonald's.

My wife says, "Are you serious? This is Valentine's Day!"

I reply, "I'm sure they have a heart-shaped Big Mac or something."

My wife laughs and says, "You're so crazy! Where do you have the reservations for?"

"That place you like."

"What place is that?"

"You're a favorite restaurant!"

"The Italian place or the Chinese place."

"Ummm ... The Italian one."

"Let's go!"

We take off from the parking lot and head to my wife's favorite Italian place, "The Italian Place".

We pull into the parking lot in record time, get out of the car, then my wife stops me, "This is a lot of effort for someone who doesn't believe in Valentine's Day."

I turn to my wife and say, "Yeah. But you do and that's what makes all of this worth it."

We walk into the restaurant and my wife heads to the bathroom.

I wait for a minute until I get to the host stand. The host asks, "What time is your reservation?"

I reply, "It is for --"

"Hold on", the host picks up the phone and says, "I'm sorry about your cancellation."

Then, he turns to me and says, "Party of ..."

Excited, I say, "Can we take that reservation?

The host says, "Sure thing. Party of two?"

I happily reply, "Yes!"

My wife walks back from the bathroom and says, "Any trouble?"

No trouble at all!

The person leads us to the table an the rest of the evening works out well. A few hours later, we leave the restaurant and drive home.

On the ride home, my wife asks, "I want to thank you for actually putting forth some effort this year for Valentine's Day."

I reply, "I'm just glad that someone canceled a reservation so we could get into the restaurant."

My wife takes her phone out of her purse and looks at the call log. The last entry on the phone was the one for the Italian resturant. She deleted the number, smiles, and puts the phoen bak in herperse.

Then, my wife says, "That was a coincidence. Hmmm."

Bottom line: If you're in love, NEVER forget birthdays, Christmas, and especially the holiday of love ... Valentine's Day

Thant's all for the blog. Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, please let me know.