WOW--Woo

            “Wooing is a part of love. I love to woo. I love to be wooed. I like to say the word, ‘Woo’!” – Miss Piggy, WSJ Magazine, February, 2014.

            When I read the above quote from that guru of woo, Miss Piggy, I took a cue from a nearby middle school, which always posts a WOW--Word of the Week--on its marquis. In celebration of Valentine's Day, my WOW is woo.

            A search on Dictionary.com clarified the definition for me. The lead definition says woo is a verb (used with an object), meaning “to seek the favor, affection, or love of, especially with a view toward marriage.” The second meaning: “to seek after zealously or hopefully.”

            Most of us would agree wooing is a good, desirable thing. Agreeing on the best way to woo is another matter. Although, I have the utmost respect for Miss Piggy, I take some issue with her wooing technique. Further along in the WSJ article, she claims, “I once went all the way to the Great Swamp in New Jersey to track down Kermit...My tricks for seduction are easy; I simply hold Kermie tenderly in my arms—and don’t let go.” A fine line exists between wooing and stalking or clinging. I fear it might have been crossed here.

When it comes to
Valentine's Day wooing,
 I'm a traditionalist.
 

            The way to woo is tricky because it is so individualized. For example, on the off-chance my husband asks you, please inform him I DO NOT want a Big Hunka Love teddy bear for Valentine's. Ditto for Hoodie-Footie pajamas. I have no space to store a four-foot tall teddy bear, and I can come up with a zillion better ways to spend a hundred bucks. Every time I see an ad for those pj’s, I picture myself ripping them off while in the throes of a hot flash. When it comes to Valentine's Day wooing, I’m a traditionalist. A nice meal, flowers, a sweet card...an expensive piece of jewelry. Give me any—or all—of these, and I’m happy. But that’s just me. Perhaps, for you, “nothing says loving” like being encased like a sausage in pink polyester.

The guru of woo, Miss Piggy, with the object
of her never-ending pursuit.

            While the way to woo is fuzzy, the when is a no-brainer: always. In the aforementioned definitions, I prefer the second one because it puts no limit, no end-all goal on wooing. I question some of Miss Piggy’s techniques, but truly, I have to admire a female who has pursued the same love interest for over thirty years. Would her seeking have remained as zealous if she and Kermit had married? Can’t say for sure, but knowing Miss Piggy’s zeal for other areas of her life, I’m going with the affirmative. (And btw, Kermit, you’re a fool for never having popped the question!)

            When I listed my wooing favs above, I was joking about the expensive piece of jewelry ...sort of. I really don’t think wooing has to be expensive, although occasionally it’s nice to splurge if you can afford it. I consider my friend, Family Law attorney Shel Harrington, to be another guru of woo. Visit her blog for a beautiful Valentine's day idea. And for some other inexpensive but meaningful ways to pursue your beloved, visit her blog here.      

            Let me hear from you. What’s your favorite way to woo or be wooed? (Please keep it PG.)

 

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/6396470729/">Express Monorail</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>