Love is in the Air

It’s that time of year again. Love is in the air. My wife and I have been married for nearly nine years already. With two young children along for the ride, she thinks the wooing is pretty much long gone now. And for 364 days of the year she’s absolutely right. I don’t make much effort at all at romance. In my defense, the kids do make things rather difficult. So unless her idea of a romantic evening involves watching High School Musical while feeding the baby, she is missing out.

Now for the good news. Exactly one day out of the year I get the opportunity to spoil my wife. You know, make her remember why she married me in the first place (she has a habit of forgetting… must be an early onset of Alzheimer’s disease). On this day I want to make her feel special the way no one else can. But I just can’t seem to make up my mind. Do I get her chocolates or roses? Perhaps a nice heartfelt card would be appropriate? The list of options these days is endless.

After racking my brain for a good fifteen minutes (this is important), I’ve come up with some amazing possibilities. Any one of these would be enough to make this Valentine’s Day one she’ll never forget. Guys, feel free to use these yourself too. It’s the least I can do to spread joy and happiness on such a wonderful occasion.

• A heartfelt card – do not underestimate this simple gesture. Truly the most economical choice (you can even make one yourself), there’s a reason roughly a billion of these things get sent every year. They work. And chances are good, if you’re anything like me, that Hallmark can say it better than you. So let them.
  
• Sexy Lingerie – cleverly disguised as a gift for her, this is really more of a gift for you. Communicate to her that you bought her this gift because you still find her incredibly attractive. Once you set the hook, it’s time to reel her in.
  
• No laundry duty for a week – this is more than fair. Dealing with everyone’s dirty clothes can get tiresome. She will definitely enjoy a break. Besides, how big can the pile really get after only one week?
  
• Gift card to Best Buy (for yourself) – the U.S. Greeting Card Association (apparently this actually exists) estimates that men spend twice as much on Valentine’s Day as women do. What’s wrong with that picture? Aren’t we as lovable as our female companions? Consider this option a noble gesture to show your support for equal rights and even things out a bit. Baseball season is coming up soon and the Braves sure would look good on that brand new big screen.
  
• Remote control privileges – this one will shock her completely. On a night of your choosing (let’s not get crazy here) allow her to hold the prized electronic device for a minimum of thirty minutes. More time can be allotted in small increments for good behavior. It’s completely up to you how to define “good behavior.” It is Valentine’s Day after all.
  
• A nice bottle of champagne – everyone knows alcohol loosens things up. Not only will your lady will appreciate your display of good taste, it will also increase your chances for smooches later on that evening. And if not, at least you still got to drink some expensive champagne.
  

There’s no denying my wife is an extremely lucky lady. I might even combine two of these for an extra special Valentine’s Day extravaganza. Shannon will be thrilled at my effort to keep romance alive in our relationship. It’s not every guy in the world that steps up to the plate like this when the opportunity presents itself. No doubt I am doing my gender proud. I only hope my wife is as thoughtful when she picks out my present this year. Happy Valentine’s day babe!