Poetry. Diamonds. Champage and airplanes. Deserted beaches. Though dreams of
chance meetings and weekend escapes may be relegated to the subconscious during
the rest of the year, as Valentine's Day approaches, romantic visions pour out
with the slightest urging.
We know because we did some urging. When asked to describe their Valentine's
Day fantasies, six out of 10 interviewees mentioned some form of travel, while
seven talked about or alluded to having sex. Perhaps surprisingly, the men were
no less imaginative than the women, and almost everyone held out hope that his
or her fantasy -- either this year or on some perfect Valentine's Day in the
future -- might actually come true.
A rare few didn't want to talk about their fantasies at all (or imagined them
too risqué for print), but for those who did, simple questions like "Is
there anything else?" or "Has anything like this actually ever happened to
you?" brought out the most vivid details, right down to the size of the bathtub
and the fragrance of the candles.
And in digging through the fantasies, we also heard incredible real-life
Valentine's stories: a woman from Africa marrying a man from Boston after a
whirlwind affair in London; picturesque sailing trips through the British
Virgin Islands; missed planes leading to changed lives; and simple yet divine
kisses in the most beautiful locales.
So while local restaurants may still have space available for your Valentine's
Day dinner, before you book a table with a view and ask the chef to put a
diamond in your loved one's dessert, tune into your significant other -- or
yourself -- and figure out if your Valentine's fantasy takes place at a
four-star restaurant, between the sheets, on a remote desert island, or
someplace in between.
Matt, 28, middle-school teacher
"Whatever it is, it includes a day of not teaching. A Valentine's fantasy to me
is Chinese food and SportsCenter. Did you ever see that movie There's
Something about Mary? I literally got so excited when she said, `Let's go
watch SportsCenter.' That is my dream girl."
Elizabeth, 22, medical technician
"I don't have a Valentine's fantasy because it's only one day and that's too
short. But if I had a fantasy and it happened to come on Valentine's Day, I'd
get home on a Thursday night and my man would leave a note that leads me to
somewhere, and that leads me to somewhere, and it eventually leads me to
an airport and to South America. My bags would be packed and waiting for me.
"Do you know those beautiful mountain ruins in South America? We'd have a
hillside house there that was isolated but not totally. There would be this hot
bath waiting for me with all the bath salts and everything. I'd have a
beautiful bath, and we'd have an awesome dinner right on top of the mountain.
Oh, and don't forget the two-hour body massage: one-hour body, 30-minute foot,
and 30-minute hand."
Antonio, 30, graphic designer
"I have always wanted to have my lover meet me in another city. So we'd take
two different flights to another city and another hotel and meet in the bar
there, but not actually meet. We'd pretend we don't know each other. I always
thought it would be cool for her to wear a wig or look different somehow. Then
we'd go to the bar and talk to other people and still pretend like we don't
know each other. We'd kind of walk around, then act like we just met, and dance
and drink and do all that stuff. Then we'd go up to the room and make love like
we'd never been together. Then we'd order room service -- a plate of fruit,
some red wine, some dessert -- then take a bath, hang out all night, and go to
bed in our robes. I've always thought that would be kind of hot. And fun. A
little role-playing thing."
Sue, 36, financial planner
"Being a working woman, I'd want to be with someone who's convenient. It would
be meeting a man who could also be a friend. When a man meets a woman, it would
be nice for him not to automatically expect her to do his laundry, and for a
woman not to expect him to pay for everything financially and to solve every
insecurity she's ever had. There are interesting expectations in how men and
women see opposite roles. It would be nice to find someone to spend quality
time with, without a bunch of demands put on each other. And to meet someone
who was normal in bed."
Carl, 31, musician
"I would like to receive all those cheesy little Valentine's Day cards -- well,
they're not even cards -- like in elementary school when everybody got tons of
valentines. I think it would be so cool if everybody got something. My second
fantasy would be to have a quiet, romantic dinner with someone who was really,
truly my valentine -- and I would know that because I was married to her and I
loved her. There would be no doubt she's my valentine. My third would be a trip
to Hawaii. With anybody."
Kim, 31, marketing assistant
"I always wanted to be surprised in a hot-air balloon. With champagne and
flowers -- maybe over the coast somewhere where you could land on the beach.
Then I'd want to be taken to our cabana, where there are rose petals laid out
and candles burning throughout."
Kelly, 34, administrative assistant
"I would love to wake up to coffee in bed and then a massage. Next I'd like to
be taken to brunch -- with mimosas included -- on the water. It doesn't matter
if it's a lake, a river, or the ocean; preferably the beach, but as long as
it's on the water I'll be extremely happy. Next I'd like to take a long hike
and just enjoy my significant other and the beautiful scenery. Just have a real
nice, relaxing day."
Paul, 33, software sales manager
"For Valentine's Day, I think you just need to be with people you love.
Sometimes the simpler, the better. For me it's about being with people who are
special to you. And it's okay even if you're alone."
James, 49, performing-arts producer
"A real good fantasy is fulfilling the fantasy of the person you're with. A
popular fantasy is the surprise getaway, and I tend to be the kind of person
who would do that kind of thing, but it's never been done to me. Mine would be
for someone to say, 'Meet me in the airport in an hour,' then find myself in
the Bahamas on the beach. If you want to talk about a fantasy that's actually
happened, there's meeting someone from Eastern Europe during her last hours in
the States at someone else's wedding, and arranging to trek halfway around the
world, spending Valentine's Day trekking the Baltic Sea, then exploring Paris."
Christie Taylor can be reached at annactaylor@msn.com.
Issue Date: February 1 - 7, 2002
