It is amazing to me that so many people can have so much hatred for such an innocuous holiday. I guess we all have our own little sad stories about the crushes who didn't notice us and the valentines we didn't receive, but, to me, Valentine's day always seemed like a nice, although cheesy, holiday. That being said, I don't believe that its necessary to partake in this kind of blatant consumerism--I don't need diamonds or rubies or fancy schmancy dinners or even chocolates (which, lets face it, just have a lot of calories and make me need to work out harder) to celebrate. Really, all I ever wanted was a little quality time with friends, family, or a significant other. Even when I didn't have a significant other, I didn't dislike Valentine's Day with the kind of aggressive hatred I see in so many people (particularly women) nowadays.
In grade school, it was so exciting to get Valentines. My mom insisted that I send Valentine's to everyone (even the stinky boy) which drove me crazy at the time but which, now that I am older, I would definitely insist that my child do as well. It never occurred to me to disobey my mother. I gave one to everyone, without exception. Of course, I DID pick out my favorite valentines in the set to give to the people I liked the most, and I wrote a little message on it, too, whereas I saved my least favorite ones for my least favorite people...but I did give one to everyone. My granddad always brought me candy for Valentine's day and my dad always sent flowers to my mom. I always thought that was so sweet. It has always warmed my heart and made me smile to walk past the kitchen table where a vase full of flowers from my dad sits.
In middle and high school, there were always the super popular girls who got all of the candy and flower grams that the student government sold. I always ended up with a few, even if they were only from my friends. I never felt unloved or left out, even when I wasn't dating a boy. One year, I dated a boy who came to school with candy, balloons and a white teddy bear holding a red satin heart that said "I love you." We had been dating two weeks. A little nauseated by these cheesy display, I dumped him immediately. He was a bad kisser anyway. Well, of course, that was kinda mean of me. I should never have done that. But, it was seventh grade, and I am fairly certain that in the ensuing years he has recovered almost completely.
I still dislike cheesy gifts. Anything red and shiny that says "I love you," or any other cutesy little Valentine's day-related phrase is a no-no. No stuffed animals. Absolutely not. But I can't really bring myself to dislike a holiday that centers around appreciating people that you love. It doesn't necessarily mean a significant other--it can mean friends, parents, grandparents, siblings, or really anybody. Almost every year my mom sends me a V day package. Usually it has some cute socks with hearts or something on them and V day cupcake mix or sprinkles. It's always fun, always in colorful red and pink (usually with glitter) and really, what's not to love about that? Sometimes I think its the small gifts (the funfetti V day cupcake mix, for example) that means the most. Its like, you know, I'm 24 and I live six hours and some nearly 400 miles away from my mom, but she still remembers and feels the need to send me a present--just like she has done every single other year.
I would prefer if Andy wouldn't do anything silly. I don't need a fancy dinner or a dozen roses that cost $20 on a normal day but cost $80 just because its Valentine's Day. I don't want jewelry (unless its an engagement ring, of course) or a massage or whatever they advertise on TV or on the radio. I just want to have a day where I'm grateful to have him in my life, grateful for a mom who never forgets the little things, grateful for grandparents who STILL send $10 (which I thought was a fortune when I was a kid) in a little kid card, and grateful that it's finally mid-February and winter is on its way out.
Why loathe Valentine's day with such passion? I'm pretty sure it wasn't invented, as some of my college roommates suggested, to humiliate single people. Besides, the girl who should be humiliated most is the one who has to carry around a giant teddy bear with a huge satin heart saying "I love you." Believe me, she's much worse off than you.
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