I speak at colleges all over the United States. After a show in southern Illinois Thursday night, a thought panicked me: “Oh, shit! I forgot to buy Deb a Valentine’s Day card.”
I drove to St. Louis and checked into my hotel. Down the block, I spotted a fast food restaurant. Since it was already 9:30, I grabbed my wallet and walked toward the restaurant. On the way, I noticed a Walgreens. I paused, thinking I was supposed to buy something there. When the item didn’t come to my mind, I continued to the restaurant.
Yesterday, after working my way through security at the St. Louis International Airport, it hit me again, “Oh, shit! I forgot to buy Deb a Valentine’s Day card.”
I walked up and down the concourse, but none of the St. Louis Airport shops sold Valentine’s cards. I vowed to try again when I reached the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
I concentrated to make sure I wouldn’t forget, and upon landing in Minneapolis embarked on my search. The MSP Airport is one of the best in the United States, with shops and restaurants everywhere. Almost anything a person could want is available on its concourses—except Valentine’s cards.
I was almost to the end of the last row of stores, when I spied a shop with cards on the back wall. As I hurried in to join the other men shoppers in the back, a friendly male sales clerk walked up behind me and said, “Are you looking for a Valentine’s card?”
“Yes, I am.”
“We only have one true Valentine’s Day card left.” These men are looking at cards intended for other occasions that might also work for Valentine’s Day. Would you like to look at those cards, or would you like to see the actual Valentine’s card?”
“I’d like to see the actual card, please.”
The sales clerk then escorted me to the front window display and handed me the hallowed card.
With Valentine in hand, I thanked the clerk and returned to the back wall with the other men—just to make sure a better card wasn’t available. The male bonding was instant. Soon a man from India turned to me and with a heavy accent said, “I like this one. And there are several more like it here! You should get her this one.”
This story has two lessons—one for women and one for men. For the women: Don’t be disappointed if you get a Valentine’s card that isn’t perfect. Sometimes it’s the effort behind getting the card—not the words—that truly shows the love. For the men: If men of different cultures can forget where we came from and help each other out over something as small as a Valentine’s card, surely we can apply similar cooperation when it comes to bigger things, like finding peaceful alternatives to disagreements.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!