The Whys Guy Changes His Mind About Valentine's Day
By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK
Okay, so last year, I made my feelings about Valentine's Day pretty clear. If you missed it or you don't want to click on the link, I can sum those feelings up in one word: negative. This year I'm trying to challenge my accepted prejudices against Hallmark's biggest holiday and see if I can't find a little natural romance amidst all the junk pushed on me February 14th by the military-industrial-romance complex.
Maybe I'm getting off to a bad start with this challenging-my-preconceived-notions thing. It's just that I want to do the Valentine's day thing, but I don't want Big Romance to get its hooks into me the way Big Tobacco did.
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So I need your help, all seven of you. I'm at a loss for what to actually do to make this a special Valentine's day for my wife Karel. I need suggestions that would be fun and romantic and that she would enjoy, and that don't involve cards, or stale chocolate, or overpriced flowers, or stuffed animals. Wine is fine. I want to get in the spirit without getting cliche, or maybe I should get cliché. Maybe that's the point and I'm missing it.
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As you can see I'm at a loss, so any and all input is greatly appreciated. I would love to hear what's worked for you on V-Days in the past (as opposed to VJ Days in the past - I don't have time to organize a parade), what you've always imagined or hoped for, or what I should stay the hell away from. All advice and ideas will be greatly appreciated. And get this: I promise to try one of your ideas and report back. And if I pick your idea, the beauty editors at REDBOOK will send you a basket of romantic, nice-smelling bubbly things as a reward.
So start suggesting! And thanks in advance for all your help.
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