A Valentine's Date to Remember

Since this year has been one of the worst in the snow, blizzard and ice department, it immediately took me back to one of the most treacherous Valentine's Day dates my husband and I ever experienced together.  A few years back, my husband made a reservation at a trendy restaurant about twenty minutes away from our home.  He had even called the place a few weeks in advance because he wanted to make sure we could snag a cozy table for two.  When February 14 arrived, the evening was downright dismal. Snow, rain, hail, ice - you name it - it was falling from the sky.  Despite the inclement weather, my husband was determined for us to have our romantic night together.  Our sitter agreed to stay late and we hopped in the car and pretty much skidded all the way to the restaurant. Between the icy road conditions and the poor visibility, I really don't know how we made it over there in one piece.  

When we finally arrived, the entire place felt like a ghost town.  Despite being one of the most popular bistros in town on what had promised to be one of the busiest dining nights of the year, the only hapless romantics who came out to celebrate were my husband, myself and the owner of the restaurant.   While we enjoyed being doted upon by the attentive waitstaff (and even got the chance to meet the chef) I have to say I felt pretty bad for the owner who had hoped the place would be bustling with happy couples, men popping the question to their unsuspecting girlfriends and exhausted parents who just wanted to spend one special night together before they went home to collapse snuggle with their kids.

No matter how many Valentine's Days I celebrate with my husband, I have to say, it never gets old. Sure, the presents over the years have dwindled - no more jewelry, sparkly diamonds, or vacation getaways, but to this day, my hubby always does his very best to make it extra special.

Over the years, we've traveled to a cozy New England inn for a weekend getaway (this was sans kids - and I do believe before we actually got engaged), we've seen a few hit Broadway shows, spent the night at a luxury hotel in Manhattan (Ritz Carlton Battery Park was one of the most memorable) and even dined at one of my all-time favorite romantic New York City restaurants, One If By Land, Two If By Sea (nearly every table has a ringside view of a fireplace).  Plus, my hubby has sent flowers to my office and treated me to countless boxes of my favorite chocolate truffles.

I feel incredibly fortunate that after nearly 15 years of marriage, my better half has always come through on Valentine's Day.  I have no idea what he has in store for me this year, but now that we're both trying to shed some extra weight, I'd like to make a suggestion.  Forget the expensive dinner, pricey hotel and show tickets. Instead, it would be so romantic if he surprised me with that Michael Kors knapsack I've been eyeing for months at our local mall.  Nothing like dropping a big hint in a blog post to ensure that Valentine's Day is everything I always wanted and more.