Two weeks to V Day

We are rapidly approaching V-Day, a day that gives many people considerable apprehension. Not the day marked in remembrance of victory over a great enemy, but Valentine’s Day.

Although it does put pressure on relationships, there are several positive ways to look at Valentine’s Day. First of all, this is one day, guaranteed, that you have no excuse to not buy your sweetheart a gift. And because it comes every year, (like Christmas, which no one has any problem remembering), it is a way to work off all gift related guilt for the whole year.

Forgot her birthday? Wine and dine her for V-Day. Did the unequal gift exchange for Christmas? Find something smashing for him for V-Day. However, there are also several ways to mess up this most romantic of holidays. A little attention to Valentine’s manners can help a lot.

Never break up on Valentine’s Day. This should be obvious, yet too often one hears stories which culminate with “…and he couldn’t have even waited until the weekend? He had to break up with me on Valentine’s day?”

Know your target. Your partner is not a generic woman or a generic man. Not all scents of perfume suit all women. Not all men like chocolate or will wear the boxers with hearts and kisses on them. Be especially mindful of food allergies, scent allergies, taste in flowers, and size of clothing.

If you do not know your significant other very well, do not buy clothes. I cannot stress enough how much of a faux pas it is to present the object of your affection with a negligee two sizes too big or small. Too big, and you run the risk of him or her thinking you think they are huge. Too small, and they might be insulted that you think they should lose weight. Better to go to dinner

If going to dinner, once again, make sure to pay attention to allergies. Lobster for dinner is exotic, expensive, romantic, and for some people, deadly. Before you make reservations, make sure that your partner can eat at the restaurant, and likes the type of food.

Make reservations now. There is little more embarrassing than arriving at a restaurant and finding there are no tables left and you need to get very close, very quickly because in order for both of you to sit in the waiting area, one needs to sit on the other’s lap.

Flowers are lovely, and some people put great stock in red roses for V-Day. However, unless you are prepared to drop $40 or more on a florist’s arrangement, you might want to try a different arrangement with flowers that are actually in season. Roses are summer flowers and are forced (a procedure which makes plants bloom out of season) in greenhouses in the Southwest and in tropical countries. This raises their prices, and can include exposing agriculture workers to harsh chemical fertilizers.

Lastly, remember that this is one day out of 365, and with all the importance placed on the trappings of the day, the important thing is to be with someone you care about. If you are not planning on doing something super romantic, consider having a small party with friends, or a movie date with those who don’t have someone special. All holidays should be occasions for making people feel welcomed and valued.

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