Remember when you made reservations at your favorite restaurant for Valentine’s Day, the most celebrated romantic day of the year? Or you waited forty-five-minute or more to be seated because the place was packed. But you and your partner didn’t mind it because it was the evening and night for lovebirds, old and young, to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Those were the pre-coronavirus days when everyone felt comfortable going out: attending movies, clubs, concerts, and other venues. There were no social distancing and coronavirus prevention guidelines.

Like every other holiday since the war on COVID-19, Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2021, will look different this year.

Needless to say, my husband and I will be celebrating Valentine’s Day as a date-night at home. The question is, how to create a romantic rendezvous in a place that has been our quarantine zone for almost a year?

How do we resurrect the better memories of years past during this pandemic?

GO BIG OR BIGGER and stay home.

Valentine givers may have to navigate the highway of love differently this year. Forget the cookie-cutter Valentine’s Day gifts.

Roses and chocolates may not sing the melodious song of LOVE.

In that vein, the men folks don’t need to heed the females who may say, “I don’t want anything for Valentine’s Day this year?”

What red-blooded female doesn’t want a gift on Valentine’s Day? Especially during this horrible pandemic!

We’re thankful to God for the great gift of life. But to receive a thoughtful Valentine’s gift will be sprinkles on the cake’s icing.

Surely, men know that females speak in code sometimes. ‘I don’t want anything’ means ‘any ole thing.’ Anything is any boring thing.

We don’t want anything; we want something, but candy and flowers aren’t the ‘some things.’ In other words, a Valentine’s surprise is in order.

How about something that has zero calories and won’t cause heartburn?

There are lots of things that fit this bill, especially jewelry. Nothing says I love you like heart-shaped silver or golden keepsake trinkets.

But if you’re a girl who likes the cookie-cutter Valentine gifts, that’s okay too. Mom always says never look a gift horse in the mouth. Any considerate and heart-felt gesture will be a winner and a pandemic mood changer.

Ladies, if you’re not the cookie-cutter-gift girl this year, it’s time to throw out some Valentine’s hints.

Flowers, candy, jewelry, or whatever the gift, we have a lot to be thankful for. We are grateful to receive a VALINTINE.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Stay safe.