Alas! It has been one long week. It’s finally Friday! And Valentine’s Day! When I was younger I used to align with a pro or anti Valentine’s Day sentiment, depending on the year. I’ve never been one for the color pink or hearts or flowers or teddy bears or chocolates or jewelry or cards or poems or soft romantic music or ridiculously overpriced anything or unoriginal expressions of love. So to most people, I suppose, that would make me a V-Day naysayer, but in truth, though I don’t care for all the vague, inauthentic, bland, over-hyped, commercial Valentines traditions, I do actually love the idea of a holiday devoted to spreading the love and letting your significant other, family, friends, coworkers, pets, peers, mentors, etc. know that you value them. I just happen to think that you can find a million more genuine, thoughtful, fun, and practically free ways to share the love with everyone you adore (not just your partner), any old day of the week, without feeling like you must spending $55 on a dozen roses, $25 on chocolate, $3 on a card, $18 on a bottle of wine, and $65 on dinner and a movie on this particular Friday or you’re doing love wrong.
One Valentines Day I received a dozen gorgeous red roses in full bloom, a nice romantic dinner out, and The Notebook on DVD from a boyfriend, which was absolutely lovely and very much appreciated – but the next year I was single and my best friend and I had a girl date at Olive Garden where we laughed way too much, scarfed huge portions of seafood pasta, drank mango margaritas, brought our own crayons and coloring books to keep us entertained, and left pictures and candy for our young, clueless waiter, which was amazing. I’ve spent the day with boyfriends, with my lady friends, with a mixed group of friends, with my parents, in rehearsal or performance, cuddled up with my cat, and completely alone – and you know what? Because I’ve been graced with so many wonderful, loving people in my life every day, I’ve never felt more loved or less loved on Valentine’s Day than any other day of the year. And though I’m not gonna turn down any offering of free, delicious, fattening chocolate or some pretty flowers on our table (because, duh), these ‘tokens of affection’ don’t make me feel any more loved than a heartfelt hug.
So, if I’ve got to be in a camp, I would say I’m in the pro ‘love thy neighbor because you want to and have fun doing it’ camp and I’m in the anti ‘shower thy love interest with expensive flowers because you’re supposed to’ camp.
This year Ted and I have a hot date to scarf a completely unromantic meal somewhere quick and cheap, usher for/see a bunch of my talented pals perform in/laugh our tails off at Shrek the Musical at Naz, followed by the making of snow ice cream (oh yes, this is happening), and probably a hot bath for me after I’ve eaten a frightening amount of snow ice cream that will probably make me sicker than a dog, because that’s just what I want after a long week. And if $30 magically appeared in our bank account, I’d probably insist we go bounce ourselves silly at the new indoor trampoline park in Rochester too. Because nothing says ‘I Love You’ more than simultaneously flailing yourselves at a trampoline wall and laughing until you cannot walk.
What are you plans for this fine Friday with the ones you love, or all by yourself?
