<p>Picked up cards for S and grand-daughter a couple of weeks ago while buying a birthday card, walked out and realized I had not bought card for H. Fast forward to last night, when I told him not to bother with anything (he hates buying cards) and he announced it was too late for that. At my sheepish look and the telling of my tale, he recommended I recycle his card from last year. I found it, came up with a fresh envelope, updated the message with a PS, and we have saved $4-5! He is the best.</p>
<p>I sent the boys boxes with goodies – for S1 cheese and crackers, soup, and pasta, S2 got granola bars and trail mix. Then this morning I sent them a youtube link of “Miss Tracey” doing a Valentine’s Story time. They will think I am nuts.</p>
<p>Thankfully neither spouse nor I feel sucked into another hallmark holiday. I wish we got rid of all of them. </p>
<p>I get wayyyyy more meaning and value from my spouse spontaneously leaving me a little ‘love note’ on the back of an envelop and attached to the windshield of my car, or randomly baking me a cake, than I do from him giving me a heart shaped box from the drugstore because it’s Feb 14th.</p>
<p>I honestly loath this kind of holiday that is only sustained year after year because there are commercial interests motivated to sustain it. Truth be known, if it wasn’t pushed all the time by those that profit from it through endless advertising, it would not exist. This is why they try to convince us of additional such holidays such as secretary’s day and so on. UGH.</p>
<p>Reading all of these made me realize that today is the 30th anniversary of sorts for us. It was on this date in 1982 that I told a former boyfriend that it was definitely, and completely, over, thus freeing up my heart for my future H who had been biding his time and waiting hopefull for me to come around. Maybe it’s time to break open the champagne that we forgot to drink on Christmas Day and then again on New Years!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It all depends upon what they value. I would be shocked if my D could care less one way or another. Her current boyfriend wanted to see her this week and she could only fit in Wednesday because she has a lot of work to do this week. It would never occur to her to care one way or another about V day. She values relationships and romance, but not a stupid commercial event; she isn’t sitting at home waiting for a box of chocolates (and certainly not more than her brother).</p>
<p>
And I love it because this is our 30th year together and my husband and I still find it an excuse to have fun together, to be silly, and to be sexy. Also, I’m fine with corporations making money. Particularly chocolate companies. I fully support the right of chocolate companies to make money. Lots of money.</p>
<p>Yes, starbright, but your D HAS a relationship and that makes all the difference. It’s not about the gifts and cards or a particular day in February. It’s about feeling appreciated or loved by someone special. The absence of that affection simply hurts more today than other days because other people’s good fortune is in your face.</p>
<p>I’m not big on spending money for things we don’t need because some marketing executive decided I should. However, I’ve seen plenty of my friends go though a lot a pain over not being thought of on this and other holidays.</p>
<p>
Everyone has disappointment and sadness in life. My D and her boyfriend of 4 years broke up a couple of weeks ago, so she is a little down today, but they had four wonderful Valentine’s days together. I’m sure she would never begrudge anyone else the special day because hers was less than special this year. However, she is an optimistic person and knows that happier Valentine’s days will be coming.</p>
<p>Every year the 99 cent store runs an ad with “good choice” “bad choice” columns for Valentine’s Day gifts. Not sure if it’s nationwide or just in CA/NV. Here is the ad for this year (note condoms are in both columns):</p>
<p><a href=“http://99only.com/files/CAAZNV_021412.pdf[/url]”>http://99only.com/files/CAAZNV_021412.pdf</a></p>
<p>S-2 dates but tries to stay single around Valerntine’s Day; says it’s just too expensive for him. L.A. women take no prisoners.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t know how you can “loathe” a holiday. Life’s too short! You can participate to the extent you choose, but loathe??? While I’m not excited about picking out cards or getting some candy I don’t need, it does lift people’s spirits in the workplace and brightens things up a little. Our employer provided boxes and boxes and boxes of gourmet cupcakes for us (not that I needed those, either), which was fun. Society gets a little boost frome these “stupid commercial events”, whether or not any of us individually gets pumped up about them. It’s sort of like how everyone becomes Irish on St. Patty’s Day!</p>
<p>
Excellent points! My bus driver gave chocolate hearts to all the ladies on the bus today. It really was a morning brightener and I don’t know how anyone could “loathe” that. My cafeteria has all sorts of goodies and raffles for every holiday, including Valentine’s day, and I get a huge kick out of it, as do other employees.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To me, a Hallmark holiday is one that was specifically created to support the rampant commercialism in this country. I don’t view Valentine’s Day this way. I make Valentines for my family and girlfriends. I will cook a special dinner and get dressed up for DH tonight. Valentine’s Day was established in 496 AD and </p>
<p>
<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_day[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_day</a></p>
<p>I’ll take my simple pleasures and joyous moments wherever I can find them.</p>
<p>We were at my mom (88 yrs old) and dad’s (90 yrs old) this weekend, helping them sort through 60 plus years of stuff and memories, in order to get them ready for the move to an independent living facility. Dad slipped away with H to buy mom a card for Valentines day. You see,he had met her at Panchos piano bar some 65 years ago on Feb 14. As he said, "I walked in and there at the piano, was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. " Fast forward to this last Saturday and he was so excited that he had bought the biggest card the store had and he was insisting that she open it NOW.
$7.00 spent at the Thrifty Mart just brought it all back. Now how can anyone loathe a holiday like this?</p>
<p>momsquad, I like that condoms are both a good choice and a bad choice, although I would think that condoms that only cost 99 cents a box would always be a RISKY choice!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>But I disagree. Lets put it this way: Why should girls be more impacted than boys? Because too many still raise girls. in the this day and age, as if they should be collecting a hope chest, dreaming of their wedding day, and going to college to look for Mr. right. I even know a mom who actually still see their girls’ ‘ticket’ as being beautiful and marrying right (just like she did). Now of course these are extreme examples to illustrate my point (not to suggest you or others are in this category). But with this extreme in mind, there are many girls at the other end of the continuum (including my own who only just got into this relationship), who really aren’t sitting around pining over not having a boyfriend. They aren’t even sure if they want to get married and many things are as if not more important (like friends, career, etc).</p>
<p>
Because in 2012 America, everything is all about girls? (And I have two of my own.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t care what other people do. I also don’t care if companies make money. But I find it perplexing that people mostly follow commercials without ever stepping back and thinking. Where is the authenticity? Where is the self-determination? Or is that not relevant in love? Cultural traditions are one thing, following mindlessly after commercials - and paying a premium for the privilege- seems really silly to me. How is dinner on Feb 14th more meaningful (and not less) than dinner on Feb 20th? Why not candy for your loved one when you thought of them in January instead of a prepackaged box and a mass produced card that just gets your signature? </p>
<p>If Feb 14th has any real authentic value to a particular couple, that is fabulous. But be honest with yourself.</p>
<p>
You don’t think very highly of other people, do you? I’m sure most have personal and valid reasons for celebrating Valentine’s Day as they do.</p>
<p>My boss made a huge celebration of Valentine’s Day this year because, as he put it, he needed the publicity to remind him to put the brakes on his hectic life and put his wife at the top of his priority list today.</p>
<p>CHOCOLATE!!!
See’s heart box, as usual.
And, now baking Ghiradelli’s brownies in a heart-shaped pan- the aroma is wafting around the whole house to greet H when he walks in after work.
Then, out to dinner, all dressed up, makeup, the works. I will have one of my super- super-rare glasses of wine or champagne tonight!</p>
<p>Cheers, everyone.</p>
<p>(It is NOT a lo-carb day here.)</p>
<p>Also our 30th engagement anniversary… Love that we have a special meaning for this holiday. (Now we just have to make to a few more months to get to our 30th wedding anniversary- who’s counting!)</p>