Valentine's Day II (What do They Want??)

Note: reading and participation in this blog could make the coming Valentine's Day and all following romantic holidays (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) a walk in the park for you, and for many others in your postion. What is that position? Ignorance about what on earth the opposite sex wants!

It's a mere five days till Valentine's Day, and the question on every dating person's lips? "What should I get them??" These words are spoken with increasing measures of desperation and bewilderment the closer it gets to that special day. Similar feelings tend to arise near birthdays, anniversaires, Christmas, Hanukkah...

Personally, I think guys have a pretty easy job. Perhaps that's just because I'm a girl. But most the marketing around Valentine's Day is aimed at guys. The ads on TV tell guys that they should get their girlfriends flowers, chocolate, and kitsch shaped like hearts. And frankly, they're right. But if you're truly attuned to the nature of women you know that all the generic sentimental gifts, while appreciated (and among some girls, even required) is only worth something if accompanied with an original element.

Sometimes this is just a matter of upgrading. For instance:

1. A bouquet of flowers--Good
2. A bouquet of red roses--Better
3. A bouquet of red roses and her favorite flower in her favorite color--Best

Although overall, most girls (especially teenage girls) will tell you they'd prefer a single red bloom to a whole bouquet of roses. 

Or, a foody variation:

1. A heart shaped box of candy--Good
2. A heart shaped box of chocolates--Better
3. A heart shaped box of her favorite fudge (or whatever)--Best

A little personalization goes a long way with girls. It shows you that you know what pleases a girl (roses) but that you also know her well enough to make your gift personal, which proves you've been paying attention (roses+favorite flower--which may actually be cheeper, by the way).

But guys aren't so easy to figure. I have lots of cool plans for girls (I daresay I'd make a good boyfriend :P), but you can't really get a guy flowers, or even personalize any of the classics (and believe me guys, anything can be personalized). Someone might be tempted to tell me to chill out. Guys aren't into all that stuff anyway. But the thing about me (and I suspect a lot of other girls) is that even if he isn't into all the tokens, I feel the need to express my love and care. I want to make sure that whatever I decide to get him will be appreciated for more than just the fact that I gave it to him. 

So I'm going to open up my delima to the public. I want suggestions, from both girls and guys about what they would want. Start posting! I want you to give me your Ultimate Suggestion. What you would appreciate the most for Valentine's Day? Maybe you'll make life for the opposite gender (and me!) a little easier. To kick start this little shmorg-board of ideas I'm going to give up my ultimate suggestions. Here goes:

Jaclyn's "Ultimate Suggestion" (fantacy):
I journal a lot. As a result I have all the dates and most of the times of the significant events of my relationship recorded (e.g. September 10 , 2008, 10:15pm: first held hands--that's the real date by the way). My ultimate fantacy includes a miniature 2009 calender filled from with pictures of us or pictures of us with our friends. All the significant events are pre-typed into the little boxes as the original, or anniversaries of important events. Things like "first banquet", "first hug", etc. Other boxes would have allusions to inside jokes. There would only be perhaps...twenty boxes with anything in them, but with the pictures it would be exceedingly special.

Jaclyn's Ultimate Suggestion:
A mix CD (maybe with some significant songs), wrapped, with a nice card.