Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and luckily 25 ladies let me know the secret behind what chocolates make them melt when surveyed last Friday.Everyone loves chocolate, and it is a favorite flavor for both children and adults alike. In fact, Americans enjoy chocolate so much that according to a press release from Mark Haley, president of Brown & Haley, one of the country’s largest boxed-chocolate manufacturers, they consume about 2.6 billion pounds of chocolate every year. That averages out to about 10 pounds per person – funny when you think of all the fad-diets out there.

With this in mind, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Valentine’s Day season brings in a large part of the yearly sales for this sweet treat. However, what to buy and for whom are the real questions. While I cannot necessarily give you any help on the ‘for whom’ category, I can tell you that out of the ladies I interviewed, over 10 percent said having someone for Valentine’s Day this year would be better than having someone give them chocolates; so men “if you b’s single, get ta steppin.”

Now, the subject of what to buy is the one sure thing I can help you with. A majority of women surveyed said they would rather get a gift box of assorted chocolates than just plain chocolate, but beware – there was a large percentage that wanted plain chocolates. With that said, I still recommend the gift boxes. The next problem is that there are so many chocolate companies with their multitude of products out on the market that deciding on what company to buy from can lead some men into a state of anxiety. Not to mention the list of other products – from Almond Roca to those cute and ever-familiar candy conversation hearts. Be not afraid; step down the Valentine’s Day aisle with confidence this year.

Once again I have come to the rescue. Only 10 percent of women were needy and materialistic by wanting Godiva or another expensive brand. However, close to 60 percent said they would be satisfied with just the gesture and would happily receive a lesser-priced product, like Hershey or Nestl’s chocolates.

Everybody thinks that chocolates and flowers go together. Unfortunately, this is true. Women said they want both, and I have the surveys that show it all too well for those who want proof. While most women said flowers would be nice, one was specific and wanted roses, three wanted diamonds and one wanted a trip somewhere. Now, maybe it is just my perspective, but I have come to the conclusion that the true meaning of Valentine’s Day just doesn’t hold up anymore.

Sure, at one time this special day may have actually been about showing people that you care for them and maybe even love them. Now it is just a time of year when marketing and advertisement agencies run out and buy more red ink. No longer do I see hearts fluttering, but pages upon pages of paper inserts from local Sunday newspapers blowing in the wind creating spectacles of reds, pinks and whites almost to the extent of a southern Aurora Borealis.

I don’t mean to condemn businesses for trying to grab hold of their fair share of the local business, but I ask them to stop preying on the lives of those fortunate enough to have someone during this time of year. Is it not bad enough that they have made Christmas, Easter and every other holiday into a marketing bonanza? I ask that they kindly back away and bring back the time when holidays meant family and fiends, not catchy Super Bowl style commercials and other ads.

In closing, I encourage everyone to take all the hate and hostility that has built up in the world and in their lives and just put it in the closet for a week. Then see how much better the world can become when Valentine’s Day is no longer about stuff but about making people happy. If nothing else, I will leave you with these final words: Order your flowers and buy your chocolates early, or they might be out when you go to make your last minute purchase.