Absence of Sweethearts steals Mrs. Brad's 'True Love'

Valentine's Day season took a dark turn this week: Sweethearts are gone.

You'll have to find another way to say, "Be Mine" in 2019. You'll also have to find another way to say, "Too Cool" or "True Love."

Not only will you have to find another way to say those things, I will have to find another way to pay homage to Mrs. Brad in the days leading up to Feb. 14. Because Sweetheart candy conversation hearts are in her sweet spot.

Literally. She loves them.

First, the important news. The company that makes Sweethearts, those heart-shaped candies with short phrases embossed on them, went out of business last summer. The New England Confectionery Company (Necco) closed shop after more than 100 years.

That means no Sweethearts this year. It's not permanent, but we'll get to that later. Just remember: No Sweethearts this year. No three-for-a-dollar boxes at Raley's. No chance to hand your valentine a cheap, chalky candy that expresses what you can't. Or won't.

It's catastrophic for me, because it's catastrophic for Mrs. Brad.

Sweethearts are our tradition. Since we began dating decades ago, she's been open in her affection for Sweethearts. Frankly, she has an affection for many cheap, season-specific candies (Peeps, candy corn, orange slices), but none more than Sweethearts.

At our home over the years, January brings cold weather, NFL playoffs and the introduction of Sweethearts. I pick up a few boxes while grocery shopping and present them upon my return home. She opens the box, shows me the candy and repeats the phrase to me.

"Hug me."

"Cutie Pie."

"Luv Ya."

Then she eats the candy.

This is all she wants. She makes me promise not to make a big deal about Valentine's Day. She doesn't want a grand gesture on Feb. 14. She just wants Sweethearts for the month leading up to Feb. 14.

In 2019, that ends. Unless I'm willing to go on Amazon and buy some (when I checked this week, they started at $9.99 for a 16-ounce box), Mrs. Brad will have to live without the treats. And I will have to live without her reading the phrases back to me.

"Be Mine."

"Crazy 4 U."

"Call Me."

She even read the phrases as the Sweethearts people tried to be trendy in recent years: "Tweet Me." "LOL." "Bestie."

This year's dark winter is even more so. There is, though, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Necco was bought in an auction last fall. The new company didn't have time to produce enough Sweethearts to meet this year's demand, but next year?

"We are looking forward to announcing the re-launch of Sweethearts for the 2020 Valentine's Day season," the company CEO told candy website www.candystore.com.

That's good news for Mrs. Brad and for me, one that will be celebrated on opening day of the next Valentine's Day season (probably Dec. 26, 2019).

So the blackout of Sweethearts isn't forever.

Will I get back in the groove of buying the treats for Mrs. Brad next year? If I asked her, she'd reply in a phrase that she's undoubtedly read me before eating a chalky candy.

"Say Yes."

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.