For those of us for whom Valentine’s Day is second only to Christmas in terms of depression, this is a bad time of year. Beginning December 26, merchants start to tear down the holly and break out the hearts. That breaks a lot of people’s hearts when they don’t have somebody with whom to share the holiday. Plus it gives you more than 50 days to suffer the heartache before the actual holiday comes and goes.
And we all just got through one already.
When you’ve been single for two months or two decades, all the hype can be amusing if it didn’t all serve to remind one of how little one might be loved in real life. There are stuffed animals of all types, in bizarre colors like purple panthers, and often they are holding roses or hearts or carrying some saying like “You’re HOT!” The boxes of chocolates and other evil diet death dealers come in boxes saying things like “You’re Cool!” The idea is that a sentiment goes with the gift at any temperature.
The food is eaten and, in the words of a famous chef (it might have been Bobby Flay), becomes poo the next day. The stuffed animal takes up space on the bed or gets relegated to a shelf and becomes another thing to dust. The manufacturer makes jillions of dollars because the stuff is overpriced at rates second only to Christmas.
Some enterprising men go to the jewelry store for Valentine’s Day. They may be prepared to propose, and the engagement ring is a must in these cases. While I was at the jeweler getting a few watch batteries replaced, I was seated next to the bridal jewelry case while I waited. Inside the case were diamond rings with more to their pedigree than any dog in the upcoming Westminster Dog Show (which, for some reason, is usually held near Valentine’s Day). I, not one to wear rings for fear that some future date might mistake which finger it’s on, moved myself to the charm bracelets counter.
Some people put a lot of pressure on this holiday. Their significant other must spend such-and-such an amount and buy just the right thing to prove their love. When I worked in the city, I saw men on public transportation struggling with the extra burden of flowers or the overstuffed purple panther.
It does feel strange to watch the process from a totally observational point of view. It’s how I laugh at it all.
Susan's Scribblings the Blog 
Volatile Valentines
Posted at 12:36 am by kayewer, on February 10, 2014
For those of us for whom Valentine’s Day is second only to Christmas in terms of depression, this is a bad time of year. Beginning December 26, merchants start to tear down the holly and break out the hearts. That breaks a lot of people’s hearts when they don’t have somebody with whom to share the holiday. Plus it gives you more than 50 days to suffer the heartache before the actual holiday comes and goes.
And we all just got through one already.
When you’ve been single for two months or two decades, all the hype can be amusing if it didn’t all serve to remind one of how little one might be loved in real life. There are stuffed animals of all types, in bizarre colors like purple panthers, and often they are holding roses or hearts or carrying some saying like “You’re HOT!” The boxes of chocolates and other evil diet death dealers come in boxes saying things like “You’re Cool!” The idea is that a sentiment goes with the gift at any temperature.
The food is eaten and, in the words of a famous chef (it might have been Bobby Flay), becomes poo the next day. The stuffed animal takes up space on the bed or gets relegated to a shelf and becomes another thing to dust. The manufacturer makes jillions of dollars because the stuff is overpriced at rates second only to Christmas.
Some enterprising men go to the jewelry store for Valentine’s Day. They may be prepared to propose, and the engagement ring is a must in these cases. While I was at the jeweler getting a few watch batteries replaced, I was seated next to the bridal jewelry case while I waited. Inside the case were diamond rings with more to their pedigree than any dog in the upcoming Westminster Dog Show (which, for some reason, is usually held near Valentine’s Day). I, not one to wear rings for fear that some future date might mistake which finger it’s on, moved myself to the charm bracelets counter.
Some people put a lot of pressure on this holiday. Their significant other must spend such-and-such an amount and buy just the right thing to prove their love. When I worked in the city, I saw men on public transportation struggling with the extra burden of flowers or the overstuffed purple panther.
It does feel strange to watch the process from a totally observational point of view. It’s how I laugh at it all.
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Author: kayewer