Valentine's Day with Hannibal Lechter

Several years ago, I had no plans for Valentine's Day. I was single. My best guy friend was single. And one of my girl friends was going through an unpleasant divorce. The three of us decided to create our own Anti-Valentine's Day party, which ended up being my funniest Valentine's Day memory.

BW-3

We started our evening at the local BW-3, which is now known all over as Buffalo Wild Wings. We split a bunch of wings, drank a few beers, and relished in our singledom, while all the other schmucks were out spending tons of money on someone they could very well not be with next year.

We were trying to figure out what to do next, and had been contemplating a movie. Unfortunately, most of the movies that were being shown were romantic mushy movies made for couples.

Hannibal Lechter

Then, we discovered that Hannibalwas playing. The sequel to Silence of the Lambswas intriguing to Mike and I, especially because we had just watched the first movie. And it perfectly fit in with that Anti-Valentine's Day theme.

My divorcee friend bid us Godspeed, and passed on accompanying us to the movie theatre. We got there a little early, and tucked in toward the back of the theatre. Another couple was sitting toward the front. We were the only four people in the entire theatre.

Quick synopsis of the film: Hannibal Lechter, who had escaped from imprisonment, returns to America. He is lured by a former victim, who uses Clarice as bait.

WTF??

Now, remember, Hannibal is a cannibal. That makes for all kinds of gore, which normally does not phase me too much. The only scene I remember involves Ray Liotta sitting with the top of his skull cut away, nonchalantly chatting as Lechter starts to carve away at his brain.

Mike and I squirm and giggle. The lights come up. The woman down in front turns to her husband/boyfriend, and just starts beating the crap out of him with her purse while she screams numerous obscenities.

"What the ---- did you bring me to this for? Man eating someone's brain? Happy F---in' Valentine's Day!"

We had to run out so that they wouldn't hear us laughing. It's still my favorite funny Valentine's Day memory.