Who doesn't love flowers?

Today, I sent a basket of flowers to a friend for her birthday. I just love to get flowers! Unfortunately, I've only had flowers given to me five or six times. Two of those were work related and two arrangements came from a friend for my birthday and again as a thank you for helping her with some school work. I did get a bouquet of flowers from a guy one time, but that's been over seven years ago!

Of course, at this time of the year - namely Valentine's Day - getting flowers tends to be a mark of whether or not you have a Special Someone in your life and just how special you are to that person. Anyone going into a local grocery, drug or discount store will be overwhelmed with the marketing of Valentine's Day.

I have never really liked this "holiday". Even with the possibility of having a "Special Someone" in my life, this holiday just doesn't excite me. Now, let me offer one caveat before I go on - were I to receive a bouquet of flowers on Valentine's Day, I would not be able to stop smiling and would definitely feel special. However, I have always said (and you can ask my closest friends) that if, when I'm married, the only time I'm going to get flowers is at Valentine's Day, he can save his money. Notice I said if that's the only time he plans to get me flowers.

Here's why: Valentine's Day requires no special effort for a man to tell his sweetie how precious she is to him. An alien landing on earth could walk into a store at this time of year and be able to know he should get his alienette something special. Guys don't have to work too hard to remember Valentine's Day. If my husband doesn't think that I am special and worth the extra effort to get a bouquet of flowers at other times during the year, don't bother at Valentine's Day when you get a month-long reminder that the love of your life is special to you. BUT, if he goes out of his way to tell me how much I mean to him throughout the year, I wouldn't mind getting flowers on Valentine's Day. :)

You probably think I'm being picky. Well, you're right. There just isn't enough romance these days. People aren't willing to work hard to make their relationships special. I am so saddened by the number of couples I see who just seem to tolerate each other. How much spark and fire would be added to their lives if they would just go a little out of their way to make their spouse feel special? Sure it's work - but the rewards....how can you put a price on that? I want my man to be willing to go the extra mile. After all, that's what I plan to do for him.