Heads up, doctor! Valentine’s day is less than a week away. It probably crept up on you while you were busy battling the pandemic, or trying to care for your patients without contracting COVID-19 yourself. Don’t panic, but it’s time to act. Social distancing may create a few extra hurdles for your usual Valentine’s Day plans. Use these ideas to make a safe, memorable day for your special someone. Recreate your first date (home edition) Try to recall as much detail as possible about your first date. Where did you go? What were you wearing? If it was at a bar or restaurant, what did he or she order? What kind of music was playing? The idea is to recreate the experience safely, at home. Dig out some of your old clothes and piece together what you wore (the more ridiculous, the better). Queue up the music that was playing. Recreate the dish he or she ordered. It will mean a lot more if you cook it, but if you’re a walking disaster in the kitchen, perhaps play it safe and order takeout to avoid any trips to the emergency department for knife wounds or food poisoning. Also, many restaurants have taken to takeout during the pandemic. You might even be able to get the very dish he or she ordered on your first date delivered to your door. If your first date was a movie or a concert, this is a no-brainer. Play that music or have that movie on while you pamper the person you love. Turn your home into a spa It’s not the best idea to go to a spa right now. Close quarters might make for a super-spreader event. However, you can still create a spa-level experience for the person you love. Go to Amazon right now and stock up on some candles, massage oil (pick a neutral scent), some quality bath salts, and a plush new robe. Go to YouTube and study some couple’s massage techniques. Then, tell your partner to clear their schedule on Sunday, and that you’ll be taking care of them. Create a schedule of events, including a long tub soak (or a shower, if you don’t have a tub) with the quality bath products you purchased, a massage (provided by you, of course), and three healthy meals, prepared (or ordered) especially for them. Venture out Perhaps your special someone is an outdoorsy type. Great! Outdoor recreation seems like a safer option during the pandemic. We suggest planning a day hike with a picnic lunch for the one you love. Clear your schedule for Sunday, the 14th. Find a suitable day-hiking trail here. Trail selection should account for you and your partner’s fitness level, as well as their taste for outdoor adventure. We suggest sticking to easier, scenic routes. It’s hard to be romantic when you’re pouring sweat and can’t catch your breath. Unless, of course, he or she is into that sort of thing. For the picnic, prepare something nutritious and delicious. Again, if you can’t cook, a gourmet deli lunch will do just fine. You might be tempted to bring your favorite adult beverage. Proceed with caution. Many state and national parks forbid beer, wine, and liquor. Be sure to check the rules. Nothing spoils the romance like getting fined or arrested. Skiing or skating Sure, there are the risks of head trauma, contusions, and fractures, but you can worry a little less about COVID-19 if you take your special someone skiing or skating. To be extra cautious, we suggest that you avoid indoor ice rinks and if you go skiing, steer clear of indoor lodges and sharing lifts with anybody you don’t cohabitate with. Pack a backpack with extra layers to keep warm, and a thermos full of a hot beverage. Again, take it easy on the alcohol. You might run afoul of the authorities and your vestibular system. Alcohol impairment is an effective way to spend more time on the snow or ice instead of gliding around blissfully on top of it. For the novice skiers, we recommend wearing a helmet and taking a lesson. Give them something they’ll actually love Valentine’s day has a lot of knee-jerk gifts associated with it. A few examples: red roses, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, and lingerie. When it comes to gifting, you really need to know and understand your partner’s tastes. Maybe they truly love the aforementioned examples. Or, they accept them from you annually with a thanks-for-trying smile. Unfortunately, determining what your special someone actually wants is no easy task, otherwise books and movies wouldn’t be devoted to the subject. If you’re having doubts about what to get him or her, there are a few things you can do, even less than a week out from Valentine’s Day. Think about the types of things they buy for themselves. Ask yourself, what’s something they always talk about getting for themselves but never do? Phone (or text) a friend. Ask for some insights as to what your partner might want. Aim for something they’ll use every day. They’ll think of you every time they use it. Do something for them–something they’ve been putting off or have been reluctant to do. Actions often speak louder than words (or gifts). But proceed with caution here. Taking out the garbage and calling it a gift, for example, is not going to impress your valentine. Catch a (virtual) show Concerts, comedies, and plays have all moved online. Zoom is no substitute for attending in person, but it’s better than watching Office reruns — especially when you pair the event with a good meal, a quality bottle of wine, and the person you love. Check out Billboard’s list of upcoming concert live streams this week, including Pearl Jam, Dashboard Confessional, and Josh Groban. If comedy is more your speed, we suggest starting here. Finally, if it’s theater you crave, you can stream previously recorded productions here. Regardless of what you pick for your special someone, remember that ambiance is key. You can make a night at home memorable with a bit of extra attention, effort, and ambiance. Source
