A Blonde's Perspective - Bless his romantic soul

By Jan Stadtherr

Ah, the golden years of romance! Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to share our love with a spouse, family and/or special friends. Be it with overpriced flowers, scrumptious chocolates, or Valentine cards that express love and devotion (and have also doubled in price), or just with those three simple words, “I love you!”

Have you ever observed the Valentine’s Day card aisle the day before or on the day itself? It’s the men who have usually put off the task of buying a card that expresses their sentiments. Some pick out the first one they look at and others take time to read several before selecting that special one.

In this column a decade ago, I shared with you that my husband, Ron, keeps the card companies in business. He buys three cards for me! Bless his romantic soul, as he has a tradition that never fails to make me smile and roll my eyes a little, in a good way. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, my birthday, or our anniversary, I receive three cards as that special day is “all day.” 

Each card includes romantic sentiments. The morning card is cute and funny and always makes me laugh. Lunch time is a card that’s a bit more romantic in addition to a bouquet of flowers that may have been stored in his man cave in the garage for a couple days. (Yes, he keeps them watered.) The third and most romantic card is given to me at supper along with a gift that is usually a gift card to one of my favorite stores. (My friends are so envious and I am so spoiled!) I know he plans in advance since we do live in the sticks where it’s a fifteen-mile drive to purchase anything. My husband’s card-giving ritual says that romance doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about thoughtfulness, effort, and knowing what makes your partner smile. And, yes, I do give him a Valentine card, but just one.

Valentine greetings on the day of love was started in Europe in the 1840s and they were letters or notes that were handwritten. The Hallmark Company started printing them in the states during the early 1900s and we know the rest of the story.

Valentine’s Day originated back to the Roman Empire and records show that there were two priests who were St. Valentine, thus the angelic cherub. But whose ideas was it to call it Cupid and have this tiny but chubby angel fly around with a bow and arrow? His or her arrows have not always created forever love. Cupid is adorable, but not qualified for the job. Its performance reviews cannot be ignored as nearly half of marriages end in divorce.

Roses are a symbol of love and my husband gives me flowers several times a year, and sometimes I receive them when I don’t expect them. Even if they’re from the grocery store, it’s the thought that counts. But he knows not to get me roses as I think they are too expensive and usually don’t last long. I like a variety of colorful flowers including my favorite, the alstroemeria, that comes in many colors with heart-shaped petals.

Chocolates are another favorite gift, but I prefer not to receive any. I love chocolate but it’s too tempting to devour the entire box. An interesting fact is that the British Cadbury brothers, John and Ben, created the first heart-shaped box in the early 1900s for their chocolates as a Valentine gift.

Whether you’re in a relationship or alone, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate the love in your life. It could be a spouse or partner (who gives you three cards), a best friend who calls to chat, or a grandchild who shares their artistic talent with a heart, a rainbow, or even a dinosaur. Happy Valentine’s Day!