Thursday, February 14, 2008

Much ado about a single day

Rumour has it today was Valentine's Day.

Rumour has it that Valentine's Day is a miserable day designed to torture single people.
(Rumour has it I posted about this last year, when I had just a few readers.)

Funny thing is? Besides the huge line-up at the flower kiosk on my way home, and a few tasty Hershey's Hugs on my cubicle, I would have never guessed that this oppressive day was taking place.

Honestly? I think the whole thing is much ado about nothing-- on both sides of the fence.

I'm not entirely sure buying something from a carefully crafted checklist of acceptable gifts available at any corner store is remotely similar to romance. To me, real romance is surprise, not a decision between roses or carnations, chocolates or teddy bears.

However, I'm not entirely sure the entire anti-Valentine's sentiment that has swept the world by storm over the past few years is any better. It seems more attention is paid in the media these days to how on earth singles cope with such a cruel reminder of their singlehood than to how couples celebrate. I honestly think that the people who spend so much protesting the day have bought into it just as much as the guy paying triple price for a dozen roses at the local 7-11.

Why not just see the nice parts of it without taking the whole thing at face value? Make it a day to reflect on the role of love as a whole in your life?

Okay, okay, to be fair, the boy and I are fleeing town this weekend, and holing up at a hotel. But this is minus any rose petals and balloon-o-grams, and more about each other's company and the beginning of his reading break (and celebrating his quitting his job-- in your face, grumpy boss!). And, today, we watched 24 on the couch eating sushi while I absentmindedly rubbed his feet-- like the victims of cupid's consumerism that we are.

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aww, You guys are cute! I hope you have too much fun this weekend, in more ways than one! ;-)

I'm not a hater of Valentine's day. I just think it absorbs our minds too much. I would rather B get me presents because he wants to, because he loves me, and not because he thinks he's supposed to. That's not what love is about at all.

Eleni Zoe said...

I agree. After all, its just one day and it passed as quickly as it arrived.

I watched The Office and absentmindedly rubbed my own feet. So not very different! ;)

Hope you have a lovely, relaxing weekend! You deserve it after the long week you have had.

Ant said...

Hear fucking hear.

I watched an episode of 24 too - though without rubbing my feet, cos I can't reach them these days...

Have a grand weekend!

Shopgirl said...

Aw, have a great weekend!

I actually really enjoyed sending vday ecards to all my friends and family, and helping my dad give a card + roses to my mom, on top of the lovely flowers + presents I received myself. None of my gifts I received (aside from the flowers) were particularly valentine's day themed, but all very thoughtful and i love them :)

Brunhilda said...

I think Vday is overhyped on both sides, but I think it also gets an overly bad rap from both sides.

When I'm in a relationship, there's nothing I like more than demonstrating that I'm thinking of the guy and doing things to make him smile. So one V-day that meant making him a coffee thermos with pictures of us and delivering it with pink trimmings because it made me laugh. One year it was getting myself new underwear and boning all night. It doesn't have to be the best day of your year.

When I'm single I like to let my friends and family know I love them and smile when I see cute, innocent couples not taking the day too seriously. I think it's sweet.

I hope you and the boy have a fun weekend!

Anonymous said...

I think it might be people who aren't in good enough relationships that make this holiday so crazy. Everything I've read on this topis has been the same idea, 'I've got someone who loves me all the time why do I need him to give me something today?'

megabrooke said...

I couldn't agree more. Sure, I'm a spec anti-val, I'll admit, but it's more because of the reasons you stated--- how people are so into the hype of one extreme to another, that the day itself just becomes such a big thing, when really, to me, it's just... not. I've been single on the day and coupled on the day, and in both cases, it's just kind of another day.

megabrooke said...

Oh! And have fun this weekend!

EF said...

If it wasn't for 7-11's, I fear many relationships would have been destroyed. I think 7-11 is really "the man behind the curtain" making up holidays to get more last-minute shoppers through their never closing doors. nothing says i love you but forgot to get anything for you till the last minute like a Valentine or Christmas gift certificate for slurpees and corn nuts!

the fanny said...

Have fun at the hotel! Sounds like it will be fantastic!

A Lil' Irish Lass said...

"I honestly think that the people who spend so much protesting the day have bought into it just as much as the guy paying triple price for a dozen roses at the local 7-11."

You nailed it right on the head with that sentence. Great post.

B said...

agreed wholeheartedly. I'm TOTALLY single and have been for an extremely long time.

i'm okay with it. i'm also okay with v-day. and couples. why would I bother being upset with any of it?

Silverstar said...

Personally I've always liked Valentines Day-even when I was single. Its nice to have a day dedicated to love and I agree, it shouldn't be just about the romantic kind, but the platonic kind as well and I've always made an effort to make it a more general type of love.:)

Yoda said...

Perfecto!

That's what me and J will be doing too ... cozying up on the weekend. She's spending it up here with me ... y'day on the phone she said that it was almost like going to a bed & bfast together ;-)

Hope you have fun (actually, I know you will!)

Joe White said...

You are 100% right on this one. You know what yesterday was, for most of us? Thursday.

Anonymous said...

hello there! i'm so excited to catch up on your blog - i've been so busy and sadly m.i.a. but your reading material always floats my boat, yo.

sushi and 24 sound perfect. i hope you have a fabulous weekend

Tonya said...

totally agree! hope you and the duke have a great weekend.

Carrie said...

Aw; that is sweet.

I agree with the commercialization of Valentines day... except when I go home with lots of tips after a hard nights work of demanding couples and drunkity drunk drunk in-laws.

You guys have the right idea.

Cheers!

nicole antoinette said...

Valentine's Day wound up being a lot of nothing for me. Just a regular day with some flowers. Great post.

Chris Benjamin said...

24 and sushi, that's quite a coincidence because i once watched an entire season of 24 in one week in Japan. terrible show.

i also once threw a valentine's day massacre party, which was not so much a protest as wicked ass fun. you had to come dressed up as your favourite murderer or murder victim. a prize went to the dynamic duo who showed up dressed as video and the radio star.

both of the above-mentioned activities took place alongside my wife. last year we went to a reggae concert and co-wrote a cheesy v-day poem. this year we went dancing at a live funk concert.

Crushed said...

Yes, but it does get you thinking.

I got back from the pub last night and it certainly occurred to me- this bed is way too big for one, I take up about ten percent of it.
And it's cold.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you. It was Thursday for me, no excitement or angst. Have a great weekend with your man.

Michelle and the City said...

this weekend sounds like it will be wonderful. whether it's a valentine's day celebration or not. but you have to admit a little extra romance never hurt anyone ;)

ANA said...

I think V-day is way over rated. And if in life, you are not where you really wanna be (relationship wise), it does get on your nerves.

But great thought, why not spend the day reflecting on love or the absence of it. Or better still, fall in love with your self. Because that is a self you can dictate....

and have a great weekend.

Princess Consuela Banana Hammock said...

your the raddest! i hope you have a great weekend!!

cdp said...

We definitely watched 24 on the couch too.

And yes, my darling friend, real romance is most definitely surprise. A surprise I could desperately use sometime soon.

Hope you guys have a great time this weekend! xo

mcgee said...

i'm with you on the valentine's day sentiments.

have a fantastic weekend holed up with your beau. =)

Miriam D said...

Even if you have a special someone, sometimes Valentine's Day seems too much like an obligation. It's not good when you feel obliged to spend time with a person you love.

That said, I still hope you and your man have a fantabulous weekend.

S'Mat said...

at first i thought the post title was 'Much ado about single-day' and I was like, too right.

Abbey said...

Hope you have a great weekend! I was planning to make VD a 'love me' day and take good care of me by eating well and working out etc. Didn't totally work but I'm trying to do a better job of that anyway.

Jocelyn said...

See, I knew I liked you. I just posted pretty much the same thing--only using different words.

Huzzah for the footrubs!

Anonymous said...

Adorable... I hope you guys have a great weekend.

t.b.f.love. said...

Haha, I think your day sounds lovely. I mean, it includes 24! What more do you need? Well, each other, of course... but seriously, in our world here, Jack Bauer also makes things better.

WKC said...

I spent half of Valentine's Day on a plane and the other half wandering a strange city...I hope you had a happy day.

PrincessPolly said...

Good point - you're right, it IS overhyped on both sides. But after being an anti-valentines day person for years, not looking forward to this one at all, then having a lovely day in the end and getting some lovely presents and a lovely card, i feel positive about the day for the first time ever! hope you have a great romantic weekend! :)

Lisa said...

Definitely with you on all that. Have fun this weekend!!!

Anonymous said...

You're right; true love needs no cards or flowers, just sweet gestures like feet-rubbing...

singleton said...

Awwwww, Happy Valentines Week-end! Enjoy!

brandy said...

Some of the other teachers and I were talking in the staff room the other day and came to the conclusion Valentine's Day is a big deal largely due to children. Seriously. Our Valentine's Day parties on Thursday were bigger than any Christmas party I've ever gone to. These kids were pumped.

It scares me to think that they will one day grow up and realize how big of suckers they were for falling for it.

Whoa. That sounded far too negative. Sorry. Anyway, I hope you had a great day!

Anonymous said...

enjoy the weekend away with the boy. i love me and him every day, v day is all about love. we celebrate every day. love in your own style.

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

I just acquired an internet girlfriend for the day.

Bonus!

Maithri said...

Any excuse for a foot rub is a good excuse.

Love, M

Anonymous said...

24? sushi? couch?!

i wanna come over! haha

The Author Of This said...

Personally, I think Valentines Day sucks. Not because I'm single, I'm more than happy with that arrangement, but mainly because showing you love/feel for someone else is something that you should be able to do all year round. Not just the 14th of Feb. And hiking prices just for that day, well, that's just not on.

Also, I'm a grump. So there.

Jess said...

I like Valentine's Day as a day to set time aside for each other. And I like having a reason to get flowers. But it's scary how much it can get to you.

cookie monster said...

I might be admitting to heresy here, but i've NEVER 'got' 24.

Agree with the rest of what you wrote though!

Larissa said...

24 and sushi...what a great way to spend Valentine's!