The Most Romantic Potato

By Robin Weaver

Got your attention, didn’t I?

But fear not, this isn’t a hoax. I’m going to convince you potatoes can be—no scratch that, potatoes are romantic.  Here’s why:

• Potatoes are usually pollinated by bumblebees. Everyone knows, pollination + bees = honey, right?
• I never met a French fry I didn’t love.
• Many potatoes have romantic names—Desiree, Red Bliss, Rose Gold, and Purple Viking.
• There are “sweet” potatoes. So what if sweet potatoes belong to the same family as the morning glory whereas the white potato is a veggie like tomatoes and chile peppers. Both are still called a “potato.”
• Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head have been married since 1953—that’s 64 years of romance!
• Picture this: a cold night, a flickering blaze in the fireplace, a good movie, and you…snuggled on the couch with a blanket and a bowl of yummy potato soup. Loaded with cheese.  If you aren’t loving this scenario already, add Ryan Gosling beneath that blanket.
• The world consumes billions (yes, billions) of potato chips each year. That’s a lot of love.
• Potatoes pair well with any protein, for example: steak and potatoes. Truly a match made in Heaven—or at least in a restaurant. The potato also pairs well with wine. Of course, anything goes with wine. 
• Don’t you have really fond memories of making potato stamps? Of course, if you’re under forty, you’re probably saying, “what’s a potato stamp?”  Trust me, making them is a nostalgic bit of romance.
• Even vegetarians love potatoes. Spuds are also gluten-free.
  
• You know it’s true love when someone is willing to share his/her French fries. Yes, I know I’ve already mentioned the French fry, but like I said, I never met one I…  Did you know Thomas Jefferson introduced French fries to America? He served them in the White House.
• Potato blossoms were once a must-have for Royals. Marie Antoinette paraded through the French countryside wearing potato blossoms in her hair. Of course, she also lost her head—literally.

Okay, maybe trying to portray an ugly brown vegetable as romantic is a bit of a reach, no matter how tasty said veggie is. Just like I was reaching when I decided on a topic for this month’s theme: “My Most Romantic (Fill in the Blank). My point is (yes, Virginia, there really is a point), anything can be romantic with the right attitude. So make it a point to love life—then everything will be romantic.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

He’s sworn to uphold the law.

She swears she didn’t do it. The evidence says otherwise.

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