Kathryn A. Frazier
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Should I Date My Husband for Valentine’s Day?
“You’re so cute,” John said, his blue eyes twinkling. I wiped ropa vieja off the front of my blouse, leaving a tomato sauce blob on pink satin. “It kinda looks like Cuba,” I remarked.
After twenty-six years of marriage, this was our first Valentine’s Day date. For the record, it wasn’t my idea.
Growing up, Valentine’s Day meant heart-shaped pancakes, construction paper doilies, candy hearts, and comparing loot at class parties. By the time I hit my teens, February 14 was my favorite holiday. In my mind, the day symbolized all the love in my life–God, family, friends, heroes and even pets. I didn’t want to waste such a wonder-filled day on something as fleeting as dating. So I never did.
That was fine by John. After we married, we celebrated with home-grown azaleas and chocolate, with relatives and friends, but never with romance.
Last Valentine’s Day, our grown children urged us to forgo our usual ritual of watching I Love Lucy videos, and make reservations at the famous waterfront Columbia restaurant overlooking Tampa Bay at sunset. It seemed silly to me; but it was the perfect opportunity to break out that designer purse I got for my birthday. I even picked up some shoes at Walmart to match. I wore pink satin, because that seemed Valentine-y, and I ordered ropa vieja because I knew how to pronounce it. (That’s right. I still don’t speak Spanish.)
I’m no rube. I know what fork to use. On any other day, I would have floated into the restaurant, taken in the spectacular view and enjoyed every moment. But on February 14th, as the maître d’ escorted us to our table, I felt like all eyes were on us—and not in a good way. I could almost hear Anthony Hopkins hissing, “You know what you look like to me with your expensive bag and your cheap shoes?”
In the same way, I checked out other couples. I wondered about each one—how long they’d been together, if they had children, if they were having fun. I scanned ring fingers for wedding bands. One guy looked like the guy in the Old Spice commercials. You know, the man your man could smell like. I gave John a look at that nod. He glanced over, then burst out, “I’m on a horse!” Very discrete.
After dinner, we walked along the pier and took pictures. What should have been a lovely night seemed so forced. Aside from the stain of Cuba, the evening ran smoothly. It just wasn’t. . . real.
I can’t put on romance like pink satin. Romance shows itself spontaneously, like when my husband smiles at my klutzy blunders. Like when he plays my favorite music as we ride in the car. When he cleans up the line of dead ants stuck to the wall with hairspray—even after he wins a cut-throat game of Uno that says he doesn’t have to.
Maybe I just need to give it time. Should we try dating again this year? What do you think of Valentine’s Day dating? I don’t see how it could ever beat I Love Lucy.
See also: Tips for Interfaith Couples on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day Activities for Children
Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve: History of Valentine
5 Comments on “Should I Date My Husband for Valentine’s Day?”
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Kathryn A. Frazier 
I like the idea of “dating” on Valentine’s Day (or any other special occasion), but I’m not so sure going to an expensive restaurant where I felt uncomfortable would be my choice of places to go. I’d just as soon go camping in a tent or camper in a quiet out-of-the way place or something like that. Spending time together in a place set apart from everyday activities is what makes it special.
For the record, the restaurant is lovely and welcoming–and bilingual. You don’t have to know Spanish to order. It was just the pressure of *having* to feel romantic that made it uncomfortable.That, and spilling food all over myself. Ah, me. Maybe camping is more my style. Sleeping under the stars. . .
I agree; true romance is never planned. My father would bring home one single rose, clipped from the bush beside his office window, wrapped in a damp napkin, and presented to my mother with a boyish grin. Mama confided years later that the limp rose in the battered napkin meant more than a long-stem rose in a crystal vase–it was spontaneous, came from the heart, and that’s what mattered the most to her.
That is so sweet! Yes, it’s those little things that matter.
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