Admittedly, the title seems like a juicy, scandalous little rumor, and while it is true, I left out that the blind date that he planned for me was with…
BOOKS.
We are not normally the kind of people who go all out for Valentine’s Day. Sure, we exchange cards, cook a dinner at home that is only slightly more elevated than our everyday meals, and my husband will occasionally bring me flowers (potted, not arranged in a vase). It’s just not a day we look at as having much importance. We celebrate our love every day, so this commercialized excuse of a holiday is mostly just an ordinary day.
I wasn’t really expecting any presents, especially since he surprised me with boiled crawfish the day before (he knows what Cajun women REALLY want for Valentine’s Day). So imagine my surprise when I found THE BEST VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT I’VE EVER GOTTEN waiting on the kitchen counter just for me. Stacked in a neat row in a repurposed basket were books wrapped in kraft paper, each with a small tagline meant to intrigue. This man had gifted me blind dates with BOOKS.
And my nerd heart SWOONED.
If you are unfamiliar with the premise of blind dating a book, you are not alone. I’m an English teacher, so I am always looking for cute ideas for classroom libraries, something that will get middle schoolers even a smidge more interested in books. A couple of years ago, I came across the idea on a public library’s Facebook page, and I thought it was PERFECTION.
The books are wrapped in plain kraft paper to hide their identities before they are tagged with a mini description of the book – NO SPOILERS ALLOWED. The reader chooses which book to “date” based solely on the description provided. It’s important to include a mix of genres or to carefully curate a selection you know the recipient will love.
I think the very best part of this is that this gift requires a lot of effort on the part of the gift-giver. It shows me that he took the time to really think about something that would bring me joy, and that is a gift, in and of itself. Let me be clear that my husband is not always a champion gift-giver. I’ve been the recipient of some truly questionable gifts (*cough*SodaStream) in the past, but this is one that I can honestly say was touching and thoughtful. When I asked him why he thought of doing this, his answer was a gift, too: “You told me about it a couple of years ago, and I remembered.”
And that is what makes a truly perfect gift – listening to your partner, and internalizing it to the point that wishlists don’t need to be consulted because you know them well enough to choose just the right thing.
So, how can YOU pull this off for someone you love?
I think there can be a few variations of this that could work for everyone, not just book lovers:
- Do a kid’s version. Think about the kinds of books your child loves or ones you’d love to introduce them to. They could go on a weekly book blind date with you – make it a family activity.
- Make your date nights more interesting. Sometimes we get stuck in a dating rut, doing the same activities at the same places. Why not try blind dating A DATE NIGHT? Include options of things that you love, but rarely get to do. Think outside of the box – Axe Throwing anyone?
- Consider blind dating day trips. Research day trips for adventures for your partner or your family. Get out and about and see something new with your favorite adventurers.
Before you go, let me know what your favorite gift you’ve ever gotten in the comments.
Now excuse me, I have a blind date with a book and my hammock.
