Today, we celebrate the women in our lives. Let’s not pretend that Valentine’s Day represents anything else.
That’s not a complaint partially because I don’t have elaborate plans for my wife tonight. We saved all our Valentine’s activities for the weekend.
I also don’t worry about focusing on my sweetheart at this time because I have created my own holiday which takes care of my needs – the day after the Super Bowl.
About a year ago, my wife and I had a spirited discussion about the boundaries of soup season. To boil things down, I think outdoor temperature, not the calendar, should determine when soup fits on the menu.
Of course, we had soup the other day when the weather during the day made me think about breaking out my shorts so I have obviously lost this whole battle.
But the topic of soup has gotten me in hot water in another area of my life. My feelings on the topic may have cost me a few friends.
I had to go to the mall with my daughter recently. I noticed that she lagged behind me most of the time as we walked. I figured she had figured out she needed to stay close enough so that I would not worry, but far enough away so that people might not think she was with me.
Typical tween behavior, I assumed. But when I brought it up, she had a completely different answer. “You walk too fast.”
I should have known this answer would come. In fact, she has probably told me the same thing before. I know my wife has. On more than one occasion, she has squeezed my hand and told me to slow down.
I have the same answer I do for most of my problems – blame my family.
At this point in our lives, I think we have all given up on the notion of truth in advertising.
We gladly accept beer commercials that promise beautiful women to an overly chummy group of young men who choose a particular brew. We’re OK with seemingly healthy people talking about how a drug helps them cope with a debilitating disease. We can deal with chain restaurants hawking an “authentic” experience.
But a new set of ads has come along which pretty much demands we stand up as a nation and swat the executives in charge on the nose with a rolled up newspaper.