A Guy's Guide to Romance

Part2

Flowers

"The problem with flowers," my friend Vince told me, "is that they die." Since he was pouring the last inch from a $40 bottle of single malt whiskey at the time, I found this comment ironic.

"That bottle of whiskey died too," I pointed out. "What's the difference between a bottle of single malt and a bouquet of flowers?" He looked at me like I was crazy. Either that or he didn't understand the question. He'd be a lot more likely to send his girlfriend tickets to the basketball game. Two tickets, so she could take him to the game with her.

Why is that so many guys are afraid of even touching a flower? You see them on Valentine's Day with a bunch of grocery store flowers, holding them as gingerly as they would feminine paper products. Their whole body language is saying "These are not for me!" I mean really, is the big tough guy so scared of those itty-bitty flowers? Get over it, nobody's looking at you anyway.

I'm telling you, giving flowers has proven benefits:

• They set the mood. If you arrive for a date with flowers in your hand, you're going to have a better time. I guarantee it.
• It shows her that you're unique. Most guys wouldn't give a flower if all they had to do was bend down and pick one. So set yourself apart.
• If you have them delivered to the workplace, it makes all the other women envious. This makes you big points. Very big points.

Given these things, I still think it's amazing that a guy who will spend a couple of thousand dollars going elk hunting in Colorado thinks that $35 to have flowers delivered is a waste of money. Personally, I find the cost/benefit ratio very good.

When you get down to it, it's not really the flowers that a woman likes so much. After all, she could go out and buy her own. No, it's the fact that you gave her the flowers. She knows you think they're silly but you indulged her and sent them anyway. You made her feel appreciated, and when you see her next time, she'll make you feel appreciated. I'm telling you, there will be a good return on your investment.

I have a sneaky hunch that a lot of guys don't like flowers because they think they're not supposed to like flowers. They think, "If I start messing with flowers, next thing you know I'll be drinking Chablis from a crystal glass with my pinky extended." I have news for you. A single bloom with a beer bottle for a vase will work wonders. Try an experiment. If you're not up to stopping at the florist and buying a bouquet, then pick some wild flowers. Pick just one, even, and give it to her. It's nice to delight someone you care about, isn't it? And really, this is all it takes. Presentation is important, don't just thrust it out like you're anxious to get rid of it. Present it. It's so simple. And it does so much.

After giving flowers and seeing the concrete results, you'll probably be eager to expand your romantic horizons, which brings us to the next section: Lucky's theory of what women want from a guy. And what they DON'T want, which is just as important. You'll be surprised at how simple it is.