Valentine's Day and White Castle: A Love Story

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and for many, it’s a day of grand gestures, overpriced roses, and dramatic social media declarations. But for my wife and me? It’s just another day—albeit one where we make a dinner reservation at White Castle. Yes, you read that right. White Castle. The place where sliders and romance collide.

Now, before you judge, let me explain. White Castle goes all out for Valentine’s Day. You need reservations as there are no walk-ins. They create menus. There’s even white tablecloth service. It’s the fine dining experience of our dreams—if our dreams involved tiny burgers and a slight risk of regret. And yet, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

See, my wife likes Valentine’s Day, but she doesn’t go overboard with it. She understands what I’ve known for years: it’s what you do every day that counts. This morning, for example, I shoveled the walk, warmed up her car, and cleaned the snow off before she left for work. That’s the kind of thing that keeps a marriage strong—acts of service, small kindnesses, and, let’s be honest, knowing when to just let the other person have the last piece of pizza.

We don’t stress about celebrating things on the exact date. In fact, we’ve even forgotten our anniversary before. One year, we were driving around after work, deep in discussion about the best way to cheat on our diets, when I suddenly did some mental math and realized—hey, it’s our anniversary. Naturally, we took it as a sign to abandon all dietary restraint and head straight to Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park. That’s what true romance looks like: Italian beef, hot giardiniera, and the realization that neither of us was upset about forgetting in the first place.

As I get older, I realize that days are just days. What matters isn’t whether you celebrate on the “right” one—it’s the moments you share year-round. The laughs. The teamwork. The quiet understanding that sometimes, the most romantic thing you can do is pour the last cup of coffee for your spouse.

And if you need a good laugh about married life, I highly recommend Love Poems (for Married People) by John Kenney. My wife and I read it together and laugh every time. Here’s a perfect Valentine’s Day excerpt:

Are you in the mood?

I am.

Let's put the kids down.

Have a light dinner.

Shower.

Maybe not drink so much.

And do that thing I would rather do with you than anyone else.

Lie in bed and look at our iPhones.

Now, that’s love.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re at a candlelit dinner or just splitting a Crave Case at White Castle, may your day be filled with laughter, good food, and the person who still finds you charming—even after all these years.