Sadie Jackson, a fictional heroine, is back on the dating scene for the third time. After two trial marriages, she is bound and determined to get it right. She can be nauseatingly optimistic and enjoys recounting her dating experiences with humor and compassion.

It’s here again! That dreaded day of hearts, chocolates and flowers! How unoriginal, how boring, how lonely! Here I am, facing another romantic love holiday – Valentine’s Day with no one special in my life to celebrate this day with me. How did another year come and go without Prince Charming sweeping me away to the land of never ending love. As much as I used to believe in the magic of romance and finding a man that will love me forever, I am beginning to have some serious doubts.

I think it just may be easier in the end to adjust to my life alone rather than this awful rollercoaster ride of anticipation expectation, and disappointment. It’s not like I am really alone. I have a son in Alaska – he loves it there, though for the life of me I cannot fathom why. We email and Skype and see each other occasionally. There is my best friend, Lindy. There are lots of friends, co-workers, family – but that is not the same as having a man to share my life with. I really want a man, and I am about ready to give up – No, I did not say that. Sadie never gives up, although it may be time.

This year though, I think I will try something new. What could I do that would give me some measure of pleasure and spread some love. After all, who says that Valentine and Cupid have to be about romance? What if I just reached out and loved someone who is as lonely as I am. We could be lonely together – HA! Better yet, maybe we could find some joy instead. I must be getting soft in my head. Where are these thoughts coming from?

"Hey, Lindy, I think something is terribly wrong with me." I whined into the telephone.

"What’s wrong, Sadie?’ Asked Lindy, my dearest of friends.

"Well, I am actually considering doing something nice for someone on Valentine’s Day instead of enduring the absence of Prince Charming or hoping for an invite from anyone just to escape being alone on Valentine’s Day," I explained.

"Sadie, that’s a great idea! There are so many things you could do. Go to a nursing home and visit with all the people there who have no one to celebrate the day with. "

"That’s not quite what I was hoping for, Lindy. Got any other ideas?"

"Why don’t you invite your other single friends over? Have everyone bring a dish. Play some inspiring music and you could each write a love letter to the man you are waiting for. You know write them as if they are already here and you are celebrating that love in writing."

"Lindy, where in the name of Cupid did you get that crazy idea? That’s the silliest thing I have ever heard!" I remarked to my well-meaning friend.

"You know Sadie, I heard that from a love coach, and it wouldn’t hurt you be open to something new. How’s what you have been doing working, by the way?" Lindy is my friend and she can be brutally honest to a fault.

"Point taken, and I am open to something new which is why we are having this conversation. Come on Lindy, help me think of something," I pleaded.

"I’ve got it" Lindy shouted. Didn’t your grandmother pass away this year?"

"Yes, and how is that sad reminder helping?"

Lindy replied calmly, "I would bet that your grandfather is really missing your grandma and his first Valentine’s without her will probably be really hard for him."

"Great, so now there are two of us wallowing in our misery. Lindy, are you trying to annoy me?"

"Hear me out, Ms Wench," she scolded.

"I bet your grandfather would love a visit from you. Ask him to tell you about how he met your grandmother. He will be so delighted to have the company and to relive the fond memories he had with his wife. It will be nice for you hear it."

I hated to admit it, but that wasn’t such a bad idea. I never have heard his side of the story. To be quite honest I wasn’t quite sure how my grandmother managed to stay with him all those years, and I pretty much had told her that many times. It had never occurred to me to talk my grandfather about their relationship.

"You know, Lindy, that might just be something I consider. I will bring the fixings over and cook a nice meal for the two of us, and ask him about my grandma from his vantage point. Thanks, you always come through," I said gratefully.

And it wasn’t so bad. Actually, my grandfather was thrilled for the company and the chance to reminisce. He did love his wife, and he had me laughing at some of his antics trying to get her attention in the beginning. He told me about some of the tough times they went through, and how my grandmother stood her ground on a few occasions, once she even threw one of her high heels at his head as he ran racing out of the room escaping her wrath.

"Grandmother? No way!" I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh yes!" he said with great delight. "There wasn’t much she let me get away with. That woman knew how to stand her ground when I was misbehaving in her eyes."

This was not a side I remember seeing of my grandmother. I wish she were here to corroborate. Yet, if that is how he saw it, who am I to question it. That would have been a good time for me to kiss him, and end the evening.

Oh, how I wish I had.

I so did not need to hear about their love life as in sex life. EW EW EW!! My ears are still ringing and I cannot erase the images of my two grandparents in back of their station wagon in a park in their late seventies. There are just some things I do not need to know! That is one of them.

So another Valentine’s Day disaster – at least this one didn’t make me cry, just cringe!

And to be honest, aside from the ending, it was one of the best Valentine’s I can remember, but please do not tell anyone that I said that!

Sadie Jackson, a fictional heroine, is back on the dating scene for the third time. After two trial marriages, she is bound and determined to get it right. She can be nauseatingly optimistic and enjoys recounting her dating experiences with humor and compassion. Follow her dating escapades in this work of fiction. You can find more Sadie, by visiting http://CheriValentine.com/category/sadie-jackson.