This one is for all of you who whine about Valentine’s Day.  You know who you are.  You claim it is a ‘made up’ holiday invented to sell cards.  However, you are secretly jealous of the chick in the next cubicle who just received a pajama-gram and a dozen roses.  There is apparently more to cupid than flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.

It is a sign of the times.  You know you are in a recession when McDonald’s is offering a romantic candlelight dinner for Valentine’s Day.  No, this is not an attempt at some kind of joke.  There is no way I could make something like this up.  You can stuff your face, and maybe each others.

The marquee under the golden arches of my neighborhood fast food joint is currently advertising a special candlelight dinner from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on February 14. And, as you pull through the drive through there are more signs posted with further details of the evening. One lets you know there will be a special choir performing. Another sign reads there will be “buy on get one free sandwiches – except for the value menu.” But, it doesn’t end there. Apparently they will even have a maitre d’ who will be serving cherry pie a la mode.

I stifled a laugh as I sat in the drive thru waiting for my order. Apparently nothing says love like beef patties and special sauce on a sesame seed bun.  Then I began thinking about my own Valentine’s Day plans.  My husband and I decided a month ago not to do anything.  We would not go to dinner; there would be no roses, and certainly no gifts.  Instead we opted to use the money for a vacation.  I really hadn’t thought of going out Saturday, February 14th.  I was just trying to get through the week.  Suddenly, my urge to harass anyone who would consider spending an evening cuddled up with someone special at Mickey D’s vanished.  A Valentine’s Day Dinner under the arches sounded great, a little kitschy, but great.  Plus, it would give you something fun to talk about on February 15.

Who needs reservations for lobster and prime rib when you can have nuggets and fries?  The thought gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘cheap date.’  You could probably even super size your order and make it through the holiday of love for under $10.

So, this Valentine’s Day create your own economic stimulus and pad the pockets of the teenagers working at a fast food joint on a Saturday night.  Don’t break the bank for an expensive dinner for the one you love.  Instead cuddle up in the hard plastic booth of your favorite burger joint and feed each other fries.

Money may not be able to buy love, but it can buy a Big Mac.

Heather Miller is a reporter for FOX Toledo.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 10:24 am and is filed under Opinion, Without A Prompter.
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