Last Night My Visa Saved My Relationship

Have you ever woken up, looked around and thought to yourself everything seems pretty put together but I feel like there is something I am forgetting? There’s something in the back of your mind that you had been reminding yourself of for the past few weeks. So you do the general checking of your phone, look at your calendar and then it hits you like a fast moving train and you are left in a panic! It’s your 2 year anniversary and yes you have done nothing. Zilch! NADA!

Now I am guy so I know the backlash of this will probably last for the foreseeable future if not end the relationship completely. I know this is part of the sacred 3 day a year rule that I have trained myself not to forget. Her birthday, Valentine’s Day and our anniversary, and yet here I am unprepared. So what’s the plan? Well it’s the end of the month so this couldn’t have come at a worse time but time’s a wasting and I need to get on it.

Now men, you have one of two options here (it depends how good you have been lately and how demanding your lady is). You can go with option 1, Cook her dinner, buy her roses and all that jazz (cheap way out) OR you can go all out. And when I say that, it usually means: don’t expect to be heading to Tamarai for the next couple of nights with the guys. 

So I get on the phone to call the Four Seasons, book a spot at her favorite restaurant and make my way to the closest jewelry shop. Of course, I need some help so I pick up my best girlfriend (who is definitely one of the guys) and we head out. It’s always tricky buying jewelry for your girl, and it’s good advice to always get another girl’s opinion because you would be amazed how many times we think something is perfect and we get the “Ya… it’s nice” to the question “So, do you like it?”  So, learning from past experiences, I have my sidekick by my side. She knows the budget, she knows the girl and she is my savior at this moment. We pick out something perfect, I handover my Visa card to the clerk and we move on to the flower shop.

Now, flowers are not as tricky. There are a number of safe options in this category: you can go with roses or just ask the guy to create something. I usually just pick a color and one specific flower type and ask the guy to run with it on a budget of 150 L.E.  I again hand over my Visa card, take the bouquet and am on the move again.

The flowers are done and since I don’t cook, the Four Seasons for dinner it is! I finally get the call I’ve been expecting from my beloved and since I am infinitely more confident now, having sorted half of the to-do list, I answer with: ‘Hey Baby, Happy Anniversary’ in the most charming tone I know.  I tell her to be ready at 8 and that I will pick her up for dinner. She seems satisfied enough and I might have just gotten away with almost forgetting. Just a couple more hours and my secret may stay just that, a secret!

I pass by an ATM to check my balance and there is no way cash is the answer to pay for today’s slip up. So Visa card it is again. Aside from my female bestie – my Visa card seems to be my savior today. Granted, I will have to pay for everything at the end of the month, but for today, it’s one less thing to worry about.

I pick her up at 8, careful to be on time with flowers in hand and am greeted with an assuring smile, confirming that so far so good as we head to the restaurant. After wining and dining her and enjoying a fantastic evening, I put our meal on my trusted Visa card and that’s it! We are good, she is happy, I did it!

I say a quick thanks to the stars above and end the night on a good note. Thank you Visa for saving my relationship!