February 11, 2009

Valentine's Day

What are your earliest memories of Valentine's Day? How did it become meaningful to you? When I was a wee lad, in first grade, my entire class gave out little Valentine's Day cards, typically from a boxed set. I fondly remember scribbling my to's and from's on tiny envelopes a few nights before the big day. When I was that young, having a crush was a big deal. Living on the edge meant writing, "I think you are really cool!" on her Valentine's Day card--such a bold move!

To this day, delicious heart shaped candies still haunt me with their fateful messages. Which heart speaks the truth? In the end, we spare ourselves the confusion by devouring every last one of them, ending the reign of their evil prophetic powers. A year later, they return, undaunted. The heart shaped candies know that we're helpless, having only one day to legitimately experience the joy of eating heart shaped things. After all, eating a heart shaped candy on any other day would be absurd! And why would I feel that way? I suspect that I may have learned more about appreciating consumerism than I did about history or math when I was in the first grade.

Despite being older and more skeptical, I still appreciate a few things about Valentine's Day. The thought of making a sincere romantic gesture on February 14th still makes sparks fly within me--just a revealing, creative note or poem, perhaps given anonymously. Why anonymously? Well, sometimes the subject of your adoration doesn't seem ready to consider a relationship, and you just want the pleasure of making her smile without creating tension. There are no strings attached to the anonymous poem; she smiles, I smile, and we both walk away unscathed.

If you're single and you want to celebrate February 14th in a different way, check out Singles Awareness Day. And if you really have a vendetta against Valentine's Day, check out these unwholesome mockeries of Valentine's Day cards. Also highly recommended (by me) is the watching of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. It can be a very cathartic experience, and Vince Guaraldi's music is brilliant. Happy Valentine's Day in advance, and feel free to leave comments with your V-Day thoughts and stories!

8 comments:

  1. I'm very lucky in that my boyfriend picks days to be romantic at random... I think people should pick their own Valentine's day :) It's a wonderful thing to take some time out to appreciate your someone special!

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  2. You are lucky indeed! Either that, or wise for not settling for less! One day a year isn't nearly enough time for romance, right? I think you would like my earlier post, Can You Say, 'I Love You' Too Much?. It's along the same lines! Thank you for commenting, Anna!

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  3. Valentine's Day is interesting in how it creates expectations. I often feel excited as well as anxious, kind of like awaiting any other holiday. :)

    I've been toying with the idea of celebrating both Valentine's Day and White Day, like in Japan, where girls bring chocolates to the important men in their lives (even chocolates for the boss-men!) on Valentine's Day, and on White Day men return the favor.

    What other Valentine's Day traditions are there out there in the world?

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  4. Wow, Dream Senshi! Thank you for bringing "White Day" to my attention. I am now fascinated with the concept and will probably post about it! Your question is excellent as well. I hope you are enjoying the excitement--only two days left!

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  5. Valentines for me this year is going to be amazing...I finally found and married my prince charming and he told me to be ready at 9am on Sat. the rest I'll find out through out the day. I don't really care what we are going to do it's the fact that my husband cares enough to not just buy a rose from a supermarket and say I love you again...he's planned a day full of things to do and more importantly it's a day we are going to spend together. I think it's sad that in todays society we are so busy that finding quality time to spend with the one(s) we love is hard to do!

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  6. Hi Kathy! It's great to hear these stories of romance prevailing over consumerism. Planning a whole day of special events is an impressive feat! Send kudos to your Prince Charming for me!

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  7. You know it...you have to be creative in these hard times. We are both students so we are broke!:( but not having money is teaching us so much about what is really important not only when it comes to the holidays. There are so many ways of giving that do not cost a thing...I think more people should explor it!

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  8. When you don't have money, you can only rely on the things that money can't buy, and it's been said that those are the best things! I am so broke you would not believe it! Consequently, I am having one of the best times of my life.

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