BUCKING THE SYSTEM: KING OF HEARTS BEARS GIFTS FOR HIS QUEEN

I think Valentine's Day should always fall in the middle of a week.

My reasoning is simple, if illogical: Valentine's Day fell on a Wednesday this year, and it was the best celebration of the holiday I've ever had. Therefore, it should be mandatory that the holiday fall on Wednesday every year.

Let me explain.

For the past five years, we have celebrated Valentine's Day with several other couples by traveling to Memphis for a weekend of love renewal. It was always a great trip for Patrick and me, since that's where we went for our honeymoon.

The holiday normally falls within our weekend or immediately before or afterwards, which leaves gift-giving to a minimum. By our reasoning, outside of perhaps a special dinner on the holiday, the trip and the time alone should be present enough for anyone.

But with the holiday falling on humpday this year, we had several dilemmas to overcome. Should we again travel to Memphis, or was it time to try another city within a few hours' drive? When should we take the trip -- pre- or post-Valentine's Day? Do I buy a gift or not? If so, will another one be required for the big day?

Well, after much deliberation and several last-minute arrangements, we opted for a pre-holiday weekend in Nashville. Things were looking up, since most of my favorite people were going, we actually had some additional spending money for nonessential travel items, and my sister was there to help with entertainment ideas.

And best of all, my husband got the weekend started on a great note with a gift-giving spree that didn't stop until Feb. 14. It was like six of the 12 Days of Christmas, all decked out in pretty red-and-white packaging.

Now, I'm not a girl whose head is usually turned by gifts, but I am human. I like being treated like royalty just like the next person, and when the bearer of gifts is a good-looking man with a broad chest who can really wear a suit, then so much the better.

But back to the gifts. What self-respecting wife wouldn't like it when her husband finally picked up the lead-weighted hints she dropped regarding potential gifts? I mean really, how many times have you found yourself mentioning something you need or would really like to have, only to open up an extravagant and ugly piece of jewelry or a household appliance on your special day?

It's not a great feeling. But when your husband not only catches your hints but also thinks independently and comes up with appropriate gifts well, let's just call it L-O-V-E.

My husband was six for six this year. I got the perfume I'd hinted for, and Patrick also found a nice watch that didn't require vise grips to get it from around my big-boned wrist. I also received a gift certificate for a pedicure (he was a hit in the beauty salon as women asked him to phone their mates to pass on some desperately needed advice) and several of my favorite CDs.

And then there were the books. I love a man who will buy me books, especially when those books are not softback and are written by authors who actually interest me.

How could I compete with what so many great gifts? I will say I tried, setting up a romantic Valentine's Day evening complete with jazz, chocolate-covered strawberries, cheese and champagne in our sunroom.

The evening was perfect, but I ended it by doing what every tired wife and working mother of two would do on the heels of so many wonderful days and a sleepless weekend tryst: I fell asleep on my lover's shoulder.

As he shook me awake and told me to go to bed, I took a good look at the man I know it was my destiny to marry. He inspires me to the type of love that would cherish him even if he had given me nothing but himself this week.

That's a powerful love, but I don't mind being pampered.

It's good to be the queen.