Saturday is Valentine's Day!

Saturday is Valentine’s Day and in a quick survey around the office, I learned that in most homes something chocolate will be served up. Retailers will have restocked their chocolate supplies so that wayward husbands and boyfriends can retain some dignity by offering a gift up.
The florists have already ordered in dozens upon dozens or red roses and will be busy on Friday and Saturday making deliveries. Restaurants have been advertising their special “Lover’s menus” and are taking reservations. Marketing people are not leaving anything to chance for males.
Valentine’s Day is marketed as a day for lovers. As we approached our 20th wedding anniversary, my wife surprised me with a bouquet of roses for my desk on Valentine’s Day. It definitely caused a stir in the office. I was surprised and the delivery person was questioned on whether the roses were really meant for me by the girls at the front counter.
The shoe was on the other foot.
How was I to respond? Candles? Music? Dinner? A night away from the kids?
As I think about Valentine’s Day, I wondered if it was just a “Hallmark moment”, or if there is more to the story. I have learned that the Christian religion adopted a Roman holiday called Lupercalia that from historians encouraged the coupling of men and women. Various versions of the ritual abound.
The holiday Lupercalia was actually changed to Valentine’s Day by Pope Gelasius around 496 AD and recognized the work of an earlier pope Valentine who defied Emperor Claudius in 260 AD who banned men from marrying in order to build a large army. Married men wouldn’t leave their wives and families and go to war.
Valentine continued to marry young Christian couples and when jailed he wrote a letter on the day of his execution to his daughter or young lady whom he loved. It was February 14. It was signed “From your Valentine”.
In the middle ages men would send anonymous notes and letters. An American woman Esther Howland began the production of cards in the 1840’s. Throughout the world the tradition of giving and receiving cards is common. In some countries, people place small advertisements in newspapers to their Valentines. It hasn’t caught on here.
The guiding light on the internet seems to be chocolates and red roses. Whether to stay in or go out, is more a matter of one’s ability in the kitchen and how much time you will set aside for preparation and for cleanup. There is something about having your arms in soap up to the elbows as you scrape and clean pots and pans that really isn’t romantic.
All of this has me in a quandary. Should we go out? Should we stay in for dinner and a movie?
What would make the home cooked perfect intimate meal? Would it be a steak? Lobster tails?
A combination of beef or pork and seafood? Or maybe burgers on the grill, or an order in pizza?
What might be the perfect salad? Could I get away with salad in a bag?
Should I prepare a cheesecake or some sort of chocolate cake? Can I get those at the store?
Should I buy flowers?
All of these decisions to make now.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher