Date:         Thu, 30 Jan 1997 20:01:01 -0800
Subject:      SUB: Valentine's Contest: "Can Valentine's Day be more than an
              Obligatory Romance Day?": Essay

There's still barely time to send your entry! Check out
http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/val97/val.html for details.

Please reserve all critiques on contest entries until after Valentine's
Day!
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Can Valentine's Day be more than an Obligatory Romance Day?

        The vast majority of women are under the mistaken impression that
Valentine's Day is the one day for men to shower them with gifts of love.
Even more amazing is the fact that Corporate America has seized the
opportunity to cash in on women's hunger for attention and love. Yes, you
heard me . . . women are allowing themselves to be exploited by a bunch of
men sitting in a boardroom with computer generated indicators of profits
expected from this weakness. What's worse is women believe men are incapable
of creatively expressing love for them unless they are forced to do so. They
even go to great lengths to prove how women don't really need men. We hear
all the time about how men would starve, wear mismatched socks and forget to
take their medicine if it wasn't for the women in their lives. Hogwash! I've
had enough of this mockery of romance. I challenge you all to toss those
misconceptions to the wind and listen to your hearts.
        Women, step down from your pedestal long enough to realize obligatory
romance, even for one day, isn't really worth the price. You search for
power . . . the power of love. I encourage you to take the initiative in the
world of Romance. Don't sit back waiting for your man to shower you with
gifts on Valentine's Day. Why not dedicate this day to showing your man just
how special he is to you? Take the day off from work without him knowing and
plan a special surprise just for him. Create a memory he will treasure. When
was the last time you sent your man flowers? (Yes, men do like flowers.)When
was the last time you called him at the office to tell him you love him?
Have you ever kidnaped your man? Yes, meet him at the door with a big smile
and a blindfold . . . I promise you won't regret it! Make this a day to
pamper your man. Come on ladies . . . light those candles in the bathroom
and pour the bubbles into the tub and join your man for a glass of
champagne. Wash his hair. Shave his face. Bathe him slowly. Give him a
manicure. Give him a massage. Make love to him on a bed full of roses! Show
your man how much you love him.
        Men, exercise your creativity! Do something unique for your woman. Don't
call the florist and have a dozen red roses sent to her office. Instead,
find a field of flowers and pick them for her! What woman wouldn't
appreciate her man taking the time to hand-pick flowers just for her? Anyone
can pick up the phone and dial 1-800-FLOWERS! Write her a love letter. Yes,
you can do it if you try. Better yet, write a poem or copy one from a book.
Write with a fountain pen on parchment paper wrapped with tiny red ribbon.
Sing her a love song . . . ok, so you can't sing? Then take your best shot
at karoke. Find a copy of "You're My Soul and Inspiration" or " I Only Have
Eyes for You" or "You Are So Beautiful (To Me)" and learn the words so you
can let the CD do the actual singing for you. Take the day off  work just to
spend time with her. Rent some classic movies like "West Side Story" or
"Singin' in the Rain" and watch them in bed. Buy a couple of bags of
Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Hugs but don't give them to her.  . . .
remove the little paper strips and wrap them up in a jewelry box. Then give
her a box of hugs and kisses she can redeem whenever she craves a little of
your sweetness! Go for a walk. Go for a drive. Make her dreams a reality for
the night by becoming her vision of "Prince Charming." Make love. Eat dinner
by candlelight. Go dancing under the stars or just walk in the moonlight.
Show your woman how much you love her.
        Couples, share your love for each other. Express your love intimately,
openly and freely. Be proud to walk hand in hand with your partner in the
mall or the park or wherever you may venture. Cherish those unique qualities
your lover brings to the relationship that creates  a special blend of love
that bonds two hearts forever. Take the time to talk. Make time for love.
        Can Valentine's Day be more than an Obligatory Romance Day? Yes. Let's
not
allow commercialization to intrude into the world of romance. Push through
the paradigms between the sexes. Forge ahead at full speed past the
manipulative measures of the business  world. Let's show Corporate America
that romance is still alive and we are not going to allow them to intrude
into our hearts for the sake of financial gain. We can be creative in our
own way without feeding the Corporate sharks. In fact, we don't really even
need them at all. Each of us has the power to love. Valentine's Day doesn't
have to be part of a list of  things to do written in your DayTimer or a
task you delegate to your secretary. Valentine's Day doesn't have to be
anything more than another opportunity to share special moments with the one
you love. Share your thoughts with  your lover, not because it's Valentine's
Day and you feel it is expected of you. Let the passion within be your guide
to romance. Trust your instincts. Remember, romance is all about the little
things. Love as you would like to be loved.  The words obligatory and
romance should never meet.


-------------------------------------------
"Yesterday they said today was tomorrow, but today
they know better."
                  --Poul Anderson, _The Visitor_

Michelle
winebird@inreach.com