OPINION? Everybody Has One!!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

— How was your Valentine’s Day? Did you have loveish activities and plenty of good chocolates? I hope you got all your little heart desired and didn’t break the bank on stuffed bears that talk and such. I, in my famous behavior, have deepened the desire to whack me because I did not please with all the little pink and red doo-dads!

I did not forget the day or the occasion. I bought and handed out about $30 worth of chocolate covered peanuts and almonds. I made the rounds and was pretty proud of myself for handing each and everyone in my family a package of candy. Some, I just pitched theirs to them. That happened in my domain that is supposed to be a man’s castle.

I was busy pullin’ off my boots and I do that at her request to save her the back breaking labor of cleaning up mud when she, my close relative, appeared at the door. I just tossed her bag of candy to her and continued on my business. My close relative played first base for the Hep Kittys ball team and I knew she could catch any item tossed in her direction. She caught it and I, in my state of perpetual bliss, thought I was in like Flynn.

Do not let this little lesson pass by and ignore it, thinking you have it all down pat! I am probably older than you and I just learned it, so take my soul scouring to heart and do better, always! I got scolded verbally, an activity that has not happened often in the half century of matrimony I have lived. I wanted to say “lived through” but decided against it for health reasons.

My close relative is famous for cocked eyebrows, pursed lips, steely eyes and hands on her hips. Stomping is oneof her attributes but scolding out loud is seldom carried out in our happy home. The worst part was the scolding and then added tears and sniffing. For crying out loud, what did I do?

Not what I did this time, it was what I didn’t do. I guess tossing some sacked chocolate covered almonds to the woman of your dreams, and at times nightmares, is not an acceptable move and should absolutely never, and I repeat never, be carried out on Valentine’s Day.

No stomping, raised brows or piercing eyes, just several well placed words placed like carving knives in my heart and tears that never really flowed, just puddled up in her eyes. I was shocked and then maybe even a little ashamed of my inconsiderate actions. But in self defense, how is a feller supposed to know that just because of the date on the calendar he has to be romantic? She already knew the important stuff, didn’t she?

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, a man has to get pretty needy and lovestruck on that day. Now, it doesn’t matter if you told her once and she said yes, many years ago she seems to need to hear it again! Say it with a sincere gaze into her eyes and being on your knee, if you are able, is recommended. A big red heart shaped satin box of funny tasting candy, like chocolate covered lime cream, is dang sure important. Buy yourself a sack of the good stuff.

File this in the glove box of the hay truck and pull it out next year for reference. God bless you if you failed this year and I will pray for ourselves in the future!

-Bill

Bill is the pen name used by a Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 02/17/2010