It is Valentine’s Day. Not many Kenyans are of the romantic bent, hence few flowers will be sent and even fewer ladies will be red.
Kenyans are a cynical lot. In fact, the last time I whispered to a young lady that I genuinely love her, she thought I was losing my marbles.
She recommended that I check in for a psychiatry test.
Publicly, many individuals I know frown upon the idea of publicly celebrating Valentine’s.
The red dress screams desperation in the minds of men. Increasingly, many people feel that the day is too commercialised, especially in this highly inflationary times.
But privately, many women will be expecting their men to do something today. Better still it is a Saturday.
For the longest time, it has always been men spoiling their women. How about this year we make it about women spoiling their men? I see you sneering and turning your face into a wrinkly mess. You think it is wrong for a woman to treat a man? It is not.
Hell, for a change do it ladies. And the good thing with men, our needs and demands are pretty simple. Thankfully, it is a slow weekend for men, given there is no worthwhile football to catch on. He can skip the FA matches to be spoiled by you. But here are some rules.
Don’t send flowers, we detest them and they will not make sense. Neither should you send a card; we will forget it in the bar. Or make it an ash tray when smoking. But you can foot the bill for the expenditure today.
Fuel the car. Drive him out of town today. Drive him to a mysterious destination. Make sure in that station, his best meal will be served. Clue: Men are not good with salads, it should be a proper meal. Goat ribs. Grilled lamb chops, spiced just right. If he is the drinking type, how about affording him the priciest and manliest whiskey available? Make sure he eats to his fill.
When was the last time you dressed to impress him? Not cheaply or like a ratchet. But you dressed like a lady and made heads turn when he is walking with you. Today is the ideal day to whip out that killer dress and show what you got. And here is a request, please pass on that red dress. It is too cliché. And it shouts and men hate being the centre of attention.
If women do this today, they can help change our perceptions that they do more of the receiving than the giving. It also takes the pressure off men who are always constrained and bereft of ideas on what to do with a day like this.
For many years, we have done the same thing, in the same way, we need a break. Besides, in the clamour for equality that many women hanker after, such a gesture can help change the way men perceive women.
Here is to a happy Valentine’s and to hope, whatever you do, it will be a fulfilling day.
@nyanchwani
snyanchwani@standardmedia.co.ke
