There are quite a few people wandering around today in a post-Valentine's Day haze, wondering if they did enough or spent enough or cared enough about their loved ones. But what is enough?
Valentine's Day expectations are heightened because of movies. I know that's a bold statement, but movies perpetuate the already astronomical stress lumped on by stores carrying Valentine merchandise beginning December 26. Single people hope for some cinematic gesture of a stranger just waltzing through the door with flowers and dinner. People who are attached always get upset when any gift they get doesn't meet the image conjured up in one's mind. And then the day after, people feel hungover from the entire process.
I was reflecting on my Valentine's Day from last year. Last year I was dating someone, and last year's Valentine's Day wasn't anything to lean off the front of a boat and shout about. Last year, the guy I was dating came down with the flu and was sick for the week. On the morning of Valentine's Day I left him a 12-pack of Miller High Life for a gift because I had no idea what to get him. That night, he punched me in his sleep because he thought I was either 1) a stranger 2) an intruder or 3) the Vietcong. I was too tired to drive home so I slept in the guest room. On Valentine's Day. Alone.
Guess what? It doesn't matter if you're Valentine's attached or not. It's a day, just like any other day and will be over just like any other day.
You ski. I ski. Hold on while I make this awkward.
10 years ago
2 comments:
couldn't agree more. i've felt lukewarm about v-day most my life. when i was single it annoyed me in general and in a relationship it is annoying to feel forced by hallmark to remind my other half i love them blah blah blah.
i think the only time i REALLY cared (and by cared i mean it genuinely used to upset me) was when i was in a pseudo-relationship. you know what i mean, dating, not committed, but half of duo (me) wants to be committed blah blah blah. that used to piss me off, because v-day was a harsh reminder that we were not "in the same place".
bastard day.
glad that's over, hope there's not more of that in my future.
This could be why St. Patty's Day is my favorite, you can selfishly drink beer non-stop throughout the day and nobody hates you for acting in proper accordance.
I like that.
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