The Most Romantic Day Of The Year

         Well, here we are again creeping up on the most Romantic day of the year. While we celebrate it on February 14 every year, all men know that the actual day varies a little year by year. We all stand witness to the changes going through us as Christmas and New Years Day pass and we stumble through the long month of January, day after cold day watching the clock just inch along until we finally turn the page in the dayplanner and February arrives.
         Then with silent antisipation we can narrow the date down to days, hours and minutes. We look at our loved one different, almost with stars in our eyes. We draw her near for no reaon at all, we send silly emails and tell her she does indeed make meatloaf better than Shania Twain. We find ourselves calling her on the cell in the middle of the day just to say "Hey Girl, I love you" for no reason at all. We get all silly and walk with a little extra bounce in our step. We buy teddy bears and candy and flowers and go to candelit dinners and movies so bad they won't even show them on Lifetime. All in antisipation of that romantic day that stands above all others.
           While I stand  a chance of losing my guy card over this and being shunned forevermore by "the guys",  I have decided to spill the beans on the history and meaning of this wonderful day.
          It began innocent enough, I believe it was back in 1926 or 27, when a veteran ballplayer by the name of Mickey "Babe" St. Valentine was getting ready for Spring Training as he had done so many times before, only this year was different. He was feeling guilty about leaving his wife behind with the kids and a house to run all alone for yet another long spring, summer and fall while he chased his dream. So he bought her some roses and special ordered a  pound of chocolate in a box shaped like a heart to let her know how much he was going to miss her. Well, the story got out among the other players wives and they demanded that they be recognized also. Soon, the stories started appearing in the papers and ordinary wives were letting thier husbands know that they too needed to feel special one day a year just like Mrs. St. Valentine and thus a tradition was born.
          Now, through the years of course, like all stories it has grown and variations have sprung up until we have gotten away from the true meaning of the date. We men though realize that for the next six months they have spring training cuts and trades and then the season begins and for 162 glorious afternoons and evenings there will be Major League Baseball games and then the playoffs and World Series. But it all begins with one day, The Most Romantic Day Of The Year: The day Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training.
                             GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!