Valentine’s Day: Love It or Leave It?

Michelle Momper

Whenever Valentine’s Day rolls around, I can’t help but have a moment of silence for all of the Charlie Brown’s in the world. You know … unrequited love and all that. The Little Red Hair Girl was oblivious to poor Charlie’s desires. And oh, the pain and heart ache.

Indeed, Valentine’s Day is a tricky little holiday isn’t it? It’s lovely for some, and pure torture for others. For example, all elementary school kids love Valentine’s Day. It’s heaven on earth! You get to pick out your favorite character cards (who doesn’t love Scooby Doo or Tinker Bell?) and give them out to everyone with unadulterated joy. And, like magic, you get a card back from every single person in your class! And teachers love the holiday, because they are adorned with affection, cards and paper hearts … enough to cover a wall.

I think married people, in general, appreciate Valentine’s Day. But to be honest, for many of us, well, it’s just not that big of deal. We get to buy cards, stimulate the economy, and get chocolates or a new bracelet. “Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart!” Kiss kiss. On to the laundry and making dinner.

The singles out there are the ones that have to suffer. Seriously, can it get much worse? If you aren’t dating anyone, then Love Day translates into weeks of tolerating all those mushy commercials of promised love and devotion. Jewelers, restaurants, clothing stores … all touting the latest ultimate gift for your true love, while playing mood music and zooming in on doe-eyed models.

Aisle after aisle of merchant space is dedicated to obnoxious underwear, red and pink edibles and expressions of true love and devotion. For those poor souls just marching in for a can of soup, well it can be torture.

This pales in comparison for those singles who work in an office environment. They must endure the endless public displays of affection in the form of delivered flower arrangements. “Wow, did you see the dozen roses Sharon got? What a great boyfriend she has …" while you stare at your pencil holder and grind your teeth. And then singles everywhere get to overhear date plans and romantic dinner arrangements. It just doesn’t seem fair.

And Lord help you if you’ve only just started dating someone! V-day then presents a dilemma of magnificent proportions. Should you buy a gift? Should you ignore it? If you buy a gift, should it say, “Hey, you’re great and I like you just a little,” or should it say, “Wow, I’m falling for you, but I don’t want to blow it and seem like a stalker?” You don’t want to overplay your cards, yet you have to recognize the day or face the consequences. Ugh, the drama.

I’ve known people who actually refuse to begin dating anyone new until after February 14, just to avoid the dilemma. I’ve also known people to exchange extravagant and credit-card-blowing gifts on the big day, only to break up the week after. It’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of all those chubby little cherubs with bows. Can you imagine how they feel?

My advice to all those singles? Grin and bear it. Send yourself some flowers, and buy your own special gift. Schedule some time with your friends and have an anti-love dinner. Meet at a sports bar, drink beer and eat some wings. Block it out, and focus on 12:01 a.m., Feb.15. When the magic time arrives, take a deep breath and realize that you’ve made it through. At least until next year.