By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
I’ve never been very good at romantic gestures. I try, but what I think of as romantic doesn’t always come off that way. Telling someone you find them beautiful even when they aren’t feeling their best sounds good in theory – but you have to be careful how you word it. (Let’s avoid the specifics and just trust me on this one.)
Truth is, though most of my big mistakes were years ago, I still haven’t learned much about romance over the years. I’m an idiot stumbling in the dark for the most part.
One thing I have learned, though, is that romance isn’t something you turn on and off like a spigot. You don’t just trade a box of chocolate and a bouquet of roses for feelings of attachment and intimacy. It’s something you have to work on, all the time. You don’t have to be perfect (thank goodness for goof ups like me), but you have to show up on more than
just Valentine’s Day. All the romantic gestures in the world won’t mean a thing if you aren’t showing your partner how much you appreciate them the other 364 days of the year.
That said, breakfast in bed is never a bad thing.
While it’s the kind of thing that might seem cliché on Valentine’s Day (don’t let that stop you from doing it), it’s one of those nice, romantic gestures you can do anytime – though lazy weekends are the best.
You can always cook it yourself, if you’re the type that’s handy in the kitchen.
If you aren’t, or you just want to save on clean up later, I’m going to encourage you to consider picking up a pancake breakfast for your sweetheart on the first Saturday in February (February 4) from the Olive Hill Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star.
You can purchase a pair of tickets for their breakfast, served from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., for just $10 from any member of the lodge – including past master Jason Duvall, current master Edwin Cook, and yours truly. (Email me for details, or catch me when I’m out delivering papers on Wednesday. I end up at all the Dollar General stores eventually.)
The breakfast includes sausage, pancakes, coffee, milk, and juice. There are options for dining in, carry out, and even delivery in town – so neither you nor your sweetie have to even get out of your pajamas if you don’t want too.
Because it’s more than a week before Valentine’s Day, it’s also a nice way to remind your sweetheart you love them every day.
If you’re more of an evening person than a morning person – or like me your love language is food – you can also take your significant other out for dinner and a show at the Olive Hill Center for Arts & Education’s annual Valentine dinner and concert, on Thursday, February 9. The dinner will feature baked spaghetti and fettucine alfredo, along with a salad
bar, served by Olive Branch Platters. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased online at http://www.ohcae.org, by phone at (606)207-1480, or in person at the center, Tuesday – Friday, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Both are nice gestures for your significant other, and both support organizations I believe in, who are doing good work in our communities.
But don’t forget it really is the thought that counts. You don’t need to buy breakfast, dinner, flowers, or candy to show someone you love them. You just need to tell them how special they are.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com