Thursday, February 17, 2011

Loving to love...

I LOVE Valentines Day.  Who doesn't love to love?  I didn't used to.  Well I did, then I didn't, now I do again. 
When you're a crafty little kid in love with the color pink  and the idea of lavishing your classmates with beautiful little cards you feel like that day was made just for you.  Oh you want me to decorate a box with stuff from around my house for people to drop little love notes into?  Sign. Me. Up.  There will even be heart shaped cookies there and napkins exploding with pink hearts?  Perfect.

Then in high school it starts to become all too real.  You either have a Valentine or you don't.  If you do...then you have to think what to get a boy for Valentines Day.  Worst pressure ever.  A giant stuffed bear with an "I love you" balloon?  lame.  Valentines Day boxers?  weird and a little mature.  A gold chain with your name on it?  Only okay if your my dad and it's the 70s. 

If you don't have a Valentine, well then it's just depressing - the perfect reason to hate a holiday built on consumerism and commercialism if this so-called love that people are rubbing in your face.

Then you get into your junior year of college and meet someone you really love.  Someone who lavishes you with love everyday and you can't wait to spend Valentines Day with them - a special day...until you find out that they don't celebrate it.  Period. They don't celebrate Valentines Day....something about commercialization...blah blah blah....everyday is Valentines Day...blah blah blah....holiday made up by Hallmark... blah blah blah.
Okay.  I can dig it.
Like the submissive and ever-abiding girlfriend/wife I went along with this.  (I think I can hear my parents laughing two states away.)  I pretended like this was maybe even stoic.  Of course everyday is like Valentines Day....we're just that awesome.

I'm here to tell you all that EVERY DAY IS NOT LIKE VALENTINES DAY.  And I finally broke the news to him.  I called him out on it.  He was, to say the least....shocked.  I want the cheesy heart-shaped box of candy and over-priced dozen roses sent to my place of employment.  I want a mix CD of love songs made just for me to listen to on my way to work.  I want the homemade valentines card and love note.

So this year I made overpriced reservations and hired a babysitter to come and tuck the kiddos in.  I dressed up.  I bought my sons Valentines gifts and lavished my students and coworkers with candy.  And how did it all begin on Monday morning?  To a dozen overpriced red roses and a Valentine from my Valentine.

4 comments:

Elizabeth Frick said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

That card.is.awesome!!!
And I (somewhat guiltily) enjoy the holiday too :)

stuckeyfisher said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Sweet card Dustin. You set the bar pretty high for your self. How are you going to ever top that next year?!

Jill said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Loved this post. I burst out laughing when I saw the card! Awesome. :)

tricia said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I thoroughly enjoyed that post. I always have Justin read the posts you write about Dustin. And I was just explaining to Justin how I appreciate thoughtful, homemade cards. If only I could show you both the classy card he gave me last year for my birthday.