It's that day again. Valentine's Day. Or, what I call Lazy Lover's Day. Today I'm going to stop at the Weis grocery store down the street to buy flowers for my wife. Women in line will stare and shake their heads at me. thinking "what a cheapskate, buying flowers on Valentine's Day at the GROCERY STORE." Others will think I simply forgot to get something for my beloved wife.
I've stopped at Weis for the past few years to buy flowers on Valentine's Day and these are the reactions, the looks, the whispers I've seen and heard. Today, I'm going to sneak into Weis after dropping my kids off at school during a down time in the grocery world. Yes, I want to avoid the judgemental crowd this year. But, should I really need to?
In fact, all of those poor, lazy schmucks who are spending $100 for a dozen roses with their local florist -- $14.99 at Weis BTW -- should instead avert their eyes from society for being so damned lazy. Seriously how much thought do most people put into Valentine's Day? As a marketing professional, I would say not much.
Every year Hallmark and 1-800-Flowers.com remind millions to think of their wife, girlfriend, lover, or favorite pet. They tell us what to buy, what "she'll love." Yes, that gaudy heart shaped faux-diamond necklace at Zales is exactly what she wants. And she wants it on February 14.
I remember February 14 because it was a second date for my wife and I. Does anyone really reminisce about how great their second date was? No, but I do remember our first date, a semi-blind one at that because we already knew one another, sort of. The first date was on February 7. We met at the local pizza place. It wasn't romantic but it was electric. We talked and postured, conversationally poked and prodded for about 2 hours. I drank 2 lagers. She drank 1. She was stunningly beautiful when she walked into the room, way out of my league, I thought. She's way smarter than me so fortunately, she figured we were two peas in a pod. Shazam, eleven months later we were married.
Every year, February 7 is a very special day for us. Some years, I'm prepared and have special plans. Other years, life pulls me this way and that and when February 7 rolls around I feel awful that I haven't done anything special for her. But I always remember and I don't need Hallmark, Zales, or FTD to remind me of how much I love my wife.
So, today when I walk into Weis to buy my flowers and they look at me and whisper, I'll know there's really nothing special at all about February 14. But, February 7 continues to really rock my world and I won't need the mavens of retail to remind me.
