“Romance is thinking about your significant other, when you are supposed to be thinking about something else.”
Novelist, screenwriter and producer Nicholas Sparks once made that observation, and if he’s right, then so is my lady. She claims that I’m a romantic guy, even though I’ve never thought of myself as such.
But who am I to argue? So, given that I’m some sort of expert on romance, let’s get on with this year’s Vinesse TODAY Valentine’s Day column… with a little help from my significant other.
Our first Valentine’s Day together is coming right up, so I asked my S.O. what she’d like to do on the most romantic day of the year. That quickly turned into a discussion about romance in general, and the advice she would give to men who are hoping to make an impression.
“I’ve always thought you should keep things simple,” she said. “You don’t need that many things to really woo a woman.”
That certainly came as good news. But I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant by “things.” So I pressed her for more information.
“You know, romantic things,” she said. “A nice dinner… a nice bottle of wine… flowers… chocolates… a red Corvette…”
Now you know why I love this woman. We laugh a lot.
But she’s really right when it comes to planning a special evening for the special person in your life. Chateaubriand is nice, but a Double Double burger can be every bit as romantic if you happened to eat at In-N-Out on your first date.
Likewise, you could spend a whole lot of money on Godiva’s “G” Collection of chocolates ($120 per pound, last I checked), or a whole lot less on See’s Scotchmallow hearts — if your S.O. is a fan of those creamy, buttery caramel and honey marshmallow treats.
And when it comes to wine on Valentine’s Day, the most romantic may not be the most expensive or the one that Wine Spectator awarded 98 points. More likely, it will be one that means something to you as a couple.
Long story short: Keep it simple and keep it personal. You’ve already passed the first half of the romance test simply by remembering Valentine’s Day.
But should February 15 arrive and you suddenly realize you’ve missed the big day, be advised that the 2014 Corvette coupe is going for around $51,000.
– – – – –
Check back tomorrow and every weekday through February 14 as we shine the Vinesse TODAY spotlight on all things Valentine’s Day.
