My annoying neighbor Swamp Rabbit was addressing my tendency to be late with everything. “Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, Odd Man. Today is just another day.”

I told him I was working yesterday and didn’t have time to think about love, though I did wonder why so many women were wearing red.

“It takes time to make a playlist of good love songs,” I said. “Not that you would know. Last year all you could think of were regret songs. Love-gone-wrong songs. I rejected them.”

He scoffed at my list for this year. “The Zombies song is a valentine, but most of the others ain’t. Captain Beefheart, James Brown, that creepy Randy Newman number. That’s a lust song, not a love song.”

“What’s the difference?” I said.

“Ha. The fact that you’re askin’ that question helps explain your lousy track record with women.”