John Sheda

This coming Friday is Valentine’s Day of course. You all know this, right? Today’s article is mainly for the guys. When it comes to love and romance, face it men, we all could use a little help. For some, a lot of help. But there is good news.

You have “me.” I will guide you through every step and your wife or girlfriend, (better not be both), will be so tickled that not only did you remember this special day but you went “all out” and made her your “Queen for the day.” And y’all have me to thank for that. So in preparing for this big day, and please know, it might not be that big of a day for you but it is a big day for her. That’s your first tidbit of advice. No matter what anyone says, Valentine’s Day is for her, not you!!! Although if you follow my vast array of knowledge on the subject, you’ll live to see another February 14.

I’ve been through this most beautiful day a myriad of times. Some good, some bad and yes, some even ugly, but here I am…still standing, still married and Deb still thinks & believes I’m the “man of her dreams.” Isn’t that right, Deb????

Here are my suggestions for you guys to try out this coming Friday. You don’t have to try them all but a couple of them wouldn’t be a bad idea. And you don’t have to tell her this but most of them are quite cheap………….I mean inexpensive.

I start out with my very best! Instead of going to the store and BUYING her a card, how about getting some colored (red) construction paper and making your very own personal card for her. Wow, talk about hitting a home run in the very first inning, you need go no further than this. But, how do you do it??? Ok, first fold the paper in half, then fold it another time in half. Hopefully it kinda looks like a card now and you should be able to open it. Draw a beautiful heart on the outside of it with the word “LOVE” printed inside the heart. Now on the inside of the card, it gets a little tricky because it’s here where you need to write something “lovey-dovey” ALL BY YOURSELF. “Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and baby, so are you.” It’s not really very original but it’ll work.

If that’s too difficult, go on a date with her. Take her to a nice restaurant and then to a movie. It’s nothing flashy but it does show that you remembered the day at least. Oh, and make the movie Her Choice, and yes, even the restaurant. Remember the movie, Love Story? Yep, that’s the kind of movie she likes. Not “Silence of the Lambs.” By the way, the dollar menu at Burger King is not such a good idea either. Been there,done that!

Another possibility: instead of a movie, how about taking her to a wonderful book store and telling her, “Honey, take as long as you want.”

This one is without a doubt the best of the best. Tell her that Friday is her day exclusively for the two of you. Breakfast, a trip to Galena, lunch in a quaint little place, then walking with her from store to store and ending the day with a nice leisurely drive through the countryside before heading home.

This last one, if you dare to try, can be something to behold. It’ll require a bit of your time, (which will be impressive), and some practice but I think you can do it. Are ya ready? How about learning the words AND singing to your special lady a most beautiful love song from the sixties. Elvis? Glen Campbel? Righteous Brothers? Temptations? Now, first thing in the morning, while she’s still just waking up.

There ya go. Five absolutely perfect ways to show your special lady on Valentine’s Day just how romantic you really are. To all the Dons, Toms, Marks, Daves, Tims, Bills, Rogers and Jims out there, you can thank me later. Just call me John (Red Green) Sheda and let me know how your Valentine’s Day went at jsheda@indytel.com or maybe even giving me a call at 319.327.4640. Love to hear how it all turned out.