This isn’t an advice column because I’m as qualified to advise others on romance as I am to predict the weather. However, experience tends to lead to opinions if nothing else.

I’m assuming a lot here, but my guess is that most of you are in the same boat as I am – you married well over your head; “out-punting your coverage” is one football metaphor for the situation.

I’ve read tributes to the women in agriculture before, and while always eloquent, they don’t do full justice to what the lady of the house means to an operation. She’s an equal partner in most cases, with a host of added burdens.

Because her job requires her to be on the road this time of year, my wife hasn’t been home on Valentine’s Day for more than a decade. Unfortunately, I’ve used that as an excuse for not having to do anything overtly romantic to commemorate the day.

I realize that without my wife, I’d probably only shave once a week and subsist on frozen pizza and potato chips. Except for the life-expectancy aspects, that might not sound so bad, but I shudder to think what my two boys and lovely girl would be without their mom.

In our younger days, there were times of flowers and candy to express my feelings, but now I realize that Valentine’s Day is a chance to say and do what I should say and do all the time – express my gratitude for one of God’s greatest gifts – the love of a great spouse.

As I write this, I certainly don’t have a romantic getaway planned, or even a thoughtful gift on my agenda. I do know that ever since she said “I do,” I’ve been woefully inadequate in expressing how fortunate I feel. My advice is for all of us to do our best to figure out how to express that, and then do it every day.