UR CUTE: BE MINE
By Kathy Knotts, CBM Bay Weekly Managing Editor, [email protected]
There’s a podcast I listen to (it’s name is not safe for print) created by a pair of South County sisters. One of the hosts said something on their latest episode that got me thinking.
She suggested that Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl should both be moved to the weekend before President’s Day. An absolutely brilliant idea.
She posited—and I agree—that moving those “holidays” to the same weekend before an official day off makes the most sense. Those who want romantic dinners out (or in, if I’m honest about it) have their date night, and then the football fans have their Sunday and we all get to recover on President’s Day Monday. It makes zero sense for the unofficial holidays to float around each year. Nail them all to the same weekend and let’s get it over with. (But don’t forget the snacks—see our Super Bowl snack suggestions from area caterers).
I am clearly not a fan of V-Day. It feels so orchestrated and I never really feel like I get the point of it. It creates so much pressure to get everything just right. And I always pity the unfortunate waitstaff who have to work on what may be the absolute worst day to go to a restaurant (tip your servers, please). Do what I do. Buy the candy and the flowers on Feb. 15. And buy them for yourself!
We should be celebrating love every day and showing our appreciation to the special people in our lives in a variety of ways. Last year, my sisters and I all got matching pajamas for Valentines. It was our version of “Galentines” – which I am all in favor of. It was much more heartfelt than a greeting card, a random box of candy and roses that die way too fast.
While I may not appreciate this particular Cupid-fueled celebration, I do appreciate a good love story. We have several for you this week.
When Susan Nolan was assigned the story on JoAnn and Meki To’alepais, it was meant to be an article on the couple winning a heritage award for their work promoting Pacific Islander culture. But as soon as she started sending me the news clippings of the couple back in the 1960s, we knew this was a love story of epic proportions. JoAnn was a white girl who loved hula, Meki was a Samoan performing traditional dance at the same Hawaiian themed club. They fell in love and are still going strong 60-something years later despite the legal challenges they faced.
The best love stories are about overcoming challenges and obstacles to be with the one you love. And it rarely looks like it does in the movies, I’ve found. (What’s your favorite rom-com? Mine’s Sleepless in Seattle.)
We followed up on the couple we met back when the pandemic was shutting down weddings. They decided a wedding can take place anywhere they wanted, even in a driveway. So that’s what they did. We caught up with the Townsends to ask them if they still want a big traditional wedding or ever took that honeymoon.
This Valentine’s Day, if your love wants a fancy dinner out, a dozen roses, or to watch the big game on the couch, this is your weekend to celebrate whatever warms your heart.