Love it or hate it, there's no denying it. It's Valentine's Day. The day that causes otherwise normal people to become that schmuck ahead of me in line today at Walmart, buying Whitman's Sampler in the shape of a heart and a single rose encased oh so beautifully in a plastic sheath. Don't you wish you were the lady in his life?
Or maybe you really are one of those romantics who has been pinching pennies for weeks to afford dinner at that oh so exclusive restaurant. You gaze into each other's eyes, reveling in the perfection of the night... until you're presented with food so small (yet overpriced) it makes Wally Walmart's Whitman Sampler look like a pretty good bet after all.
Either way, we're pretty sure you have some kind of reaction to the holiday. Whether it's a groan of disgust in protest of all that Hallmark has created in poor St. Valentine's wake or a cheer of exultation in honor of the glory of love in all its finest forms, let us know how you feel. And while you're at it, tell us why. Maybe it's a day you'll never forget it b/c it marks the anniversary of the day you met the special someone in your life. Then again, maybe it marks the fateful eve when Mr. So-called Wonderful broke your little heart not so many years ago. We know you have your own ideas about the 14th of Feb, so let's hash it out. Valentine's Day -- yay or nay?
Each year, T Pea and I have a competition to see who can find the worst card for the other. Cheesy romantic cards full of roses with ribbons on front or blathering religious quotations tying erotic love into God-worship, we've seen it all. That is our Valentine's tradition.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad T Pea and I share the same cynical nature towards this holiday. I wouldn't know how to react if we both had to spend $163.00 on each other (the figure the news quoted last night as the average people spend on this holiday).
By the way, what about broken hearts caused by Ms. So-Called-Wonderful, A Pea? Are those stories not allowed here??? ;)
$163.00 per person! Are you kidding me? What couple has $326.00 to spend on one stupid day!!! Unless it has suddenly become the romantic thing to have your fabulously rekindled relationship interrupted by calls from your creditors! Happy Valentine's Day honey, we lost he house, but at least we got that hour in at the Sybaris!
ReplyDeleteIf you can't tell, I hate this stupid holiday. I don't need a special day to tell anyone that I love them, it is my personality to say it every day, all the time.
My husband, however, is the hopeless romantic. Last year he sent me flowers two days before V-day so that I couldn't accuse him of leming like behavior. I saw through the clever ruse and told him thanks but no V-day! This year I gave up because my oldest son told me the 'secret' this morning...that they were going to make me a special dinner tonight.
*sigh* I hate this stupid holiday. But I guess I am looking forward to eating well! :)
I know Andrew already explained our tradition, but I needed to post so I'm not accused of not participating!
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing all of these things on the radio that say something to the effect of, "Even if she says she doesn't want anything, she really does, so if you're a good boyfriend/husband/partner, you'd better still get her something."
Uh, no. Not really. I really, really don't want anything. Except the worst card on the rack.
Which, btw, is getting harder and harder to find. When we started this tradition [mumble mumble] years ago, it was so much easier because I could go to the store on the day before V-Day and find the racks totally picked over. When I saw the bright blue sky with a sailboat on the front beckoning to me from its lonely position in the row, I knew I'd found the perfect card. Last night, I went to Target and had to really hunt for something awful.
But oh, never fear, dear readers... I found it.
Oh yes, stories about Ms. Wonderful are just as welcome!! Only not for you, Andrew. You already have Ms. Wonderful in your life in the form of little miss T Pea :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE Andrew and T Pea's tradition! I personally am indifferent to Valentine's Day. It's fine if you like it, it's fine if you don't. My personal favorite thing about the holiday? Valentine's Gobstoppers... and yes, they do taste better than the normal ones. :)
However, it does offer good people watching. I really saw Whitman's guy today, along with a few others. A sad looking chap with fake roses and baby's breath in a mug, another woman angrily huffing through the remaining Valentine's gift trinkets. Thankfully, none had fallen victim to those disgustingly huge stuffed animals they were selling for $30. $30!!!! If someone wanted to spend $30 on me, do you know how pissed I would be if that was the chosen gift? Thought that counts, my foot. What the hell would I do with a giant stuffed bear holding a shiny, gaudy red heart???
Apea - Though I don't buy for V-day, last year I let my then 3.5 year old pick out a present for his Stepdad.
ReplyDeleteHe picked out a stuffed lion, complete with shiny red heart on the front...but when you hugged it it sang an entire chorus and verse of "What's New Pussycat?".
Needless to say, my husband ooohhed and aahhed and then magnanimously offered to let "roar-y" (as the lion is now known) sleep on my son's bed. Where he still stays!
I love this holiday!
ReplyDeleteI bought my sweetie a long weiner dog that has embroidered on his body "I love you this much."
At least I thought it did.
It actually says, "I love this much." Not sure what the dog loves, I hope it's my wife.
At any rate, andrew: you received none of the Valentine's gene from your parents. I, on the other hand, probably received all of it -just ask my siblings.
Sappy cards? Absosmutely.
Smoochy kisses? Bring 'em on.
Just look at my picture. Who wouldn't love a mug like that?
I am kind of neutral on Valentine's Day. It's a silly thing that means you have to buy a present for a significant other, which I don't like--but on the other hand, I usually get a gift, too. We have varied our tradition over the years depending on whether we have a little money (usually spend $25 or less) or no money at all for gifts. In our house, this is a "minor" holiday; gifts are just one smallish item.
ReplyDeleteNow that we have a daughter, I find the holiday is much more about her. We make Valentine's to send to grandparents and aunts, and have to do the little ones for her "friends" at day care. She got more candy then a 3 year old should eat in a year today.
I am pretty sure Jason and I no longer take the "romantic" holiday all that seriously: it's 9:15 and we are both working on our computers. Haha.