Make the gift memorable. Flowers are nice, but they don’t last long. Chocolates taste good, but they’re predictable. Besides that, they can wreak havoc with your blood sugar and your waistline.
What about homemade coupons indicating you’ll do all the housework next weekend … or coupons good for foot massages? Coupons for a dinner out on any night your partner chooses? A trip to a spa? A weekend away? An item of clothing or a craft you’ve made yourself? Arrangements for your partner to go somewhere special with the grandchildren? The opportunity to enroll in a class he or she has been wanting to take? Cruise tickets for the two of you? Whatever you choose, if it’s unexpected it’s likely to be memorable.
Don’t buy a Valentine card. Even if they cost several dollars, store-bought cards are a dime a dozen. Make your own card.
Does a card manufacturer know what sentiments you want to share with your special Valentine? I didn’t think so. Share what you want to say in the way you want to say it. Do you fancy writing a few lines of poetry? Or will a joke tickle your partner’s funny bone (be aware, though, that more than a few relationships have ended as a result of ill-advised jokes). If you’re not a wordsmith, how about offering a sketch or design that lets your partner know what you’re thinking? Whatever you choose to create, a homemade card can be a wonderful expression of your affection and a keepsake your mate will treasure.
If you’re the grandparent of young children, consider letting them help make your Valentine card. Chances are they’ll jump at the opportunity, and it’s likely they’ve had recent experience making Valentine cards and will be full of ideas. Involving the grandkids will only increase the sentimental value of the card to your partner.
Double the fun
I didn’t know anything about White Day until making my first visit to Japan while in my twenties. In case you haven’t heard of White Day, here’s what it’s all about:
Many people in Japan observe Valentine’s Day, as Americans do, on Feb. 14. On Feb. 14 girls and women in Japan typically offer treats of chocolate to the men in their lives.
Boys and men, meanwhile, simply accept the treats. They buy nothing. They give nothing. They only receive—often from dozens of female acquaintances, colleagues, and, of course, any romantic partners they may have.
One month later, on Mar. 14, boys and men offer gifts—often sweets or more personal objects—to the girls or women who gave them chocolate on Valentine’s Day. If a man received a chocolate treat from a woman he has no interest in, he sometimes gives nothing in return—or gives a gift so unimpressive that his lack of interest is obvious. It may sound a bit cruel, but there are plenty of men in Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan—countries in which White Day is observed—who appreciate this pressure-free system of finding out which women may be interested in them before the males shell out any money for gifts.
Valentine’s Day and seniors go hand in hand, so enjoy Valentine’s Day with that special someone—or that special group of friends—and let MedicareMall find the best healthcare coverage to ensure you’ll be able to enjoy many more happy Valentine’s Days!
Leave a comment letting us know what you’re planning for Valentine’s Day!
Check out MedicareMall.com Senior Living Blog: "Hurry to Plan that Special Senior Valentine's Day"
Five Tips for a Happy Senior Valentine’s Day © 2012 MedicareMall.com