Valentine's Day Dreaming

Patch asked Ossining area Real Estate Broker and Patch Blogger Phil Faranda if he had any big Valentine's Day plans. Of course, with juggling his business and family, big plans were out of the picture. However, Phil did give us his Valentine's Day plans—that would happen in a perfect world:

Ann and I have 4 children under the age of 10. With little ones aged 9,8,7 and 4, one of whom with special needs, we've never been able to get away. We don't have a fabulous Valentine's Day anecdote that comes to mind, but we do have grand plans for February 14 we'd love to share.

First, we make the arrangements.
Then, we conscript or hire a battalion of loved ones and trusted friends to babysit the children. The routine and bedtime ritual are planned in specific detail to make the plans bulletproof; we seldom do it as well as we'd like ourselves, but that is often due to fatigue. Self employment and 4 children will do that.

Then, we are off. A limousine will take us to Manhattan for a 5 -Star dinner at Spark's. I have a rib-eye medium rare with garlic whipped potatoes and creamed spinach. Ann has the fish. Along with dinner would be a bottle of 20 year old Montepulciano d'Abbruzo, cappuccino, and cheesecake.
After that, a Broadway show. Wicked would be nice, but the revival of Godspell is also in town and I've heard great things about the Book of Mormon- we deserve a laugh.
After the show, we check into our hotel room. My fantasy would be the Waldorf-Astoria, but the Hilton would do. We're not fussy.

I should add that Ann would look smashing in a flattering black dress, and I clean up OK in my suit. Up to out room we'd go, and regardless of the hotel, we'd have a spectacular view.

Then, we'd pass out for about 16 hours straight.

It ends the same way every time!