Blurg... V-D

Let's take a moment to, once again, celebrate this made-up holiday with candy hearts and recycled romance.

Good grief.

I had a conversation the other day with someone who works at a high-end restaurant in Calgary. He told me how much he hates Valentine's Day. Why?

The restaurant is filled with people who rarely go out and who've never come to (name withheld). A few couples stare lovingly at each other while not buying more wine or food and the majority are in a bad mood. Either way, no one tips very well and it's an overall crappy night.

Yup, sounds about right. And here's my rant to go with it:

If we are going to create a SINGLE day of the year to show how much we care about someone, chances are the 364 days of ambivalence and bitterness are going to win out. If romance and love are so important, why bring them to the foreground for only one day a year? Doesn't that suggest that that majority of relationships don't have any love or romance? Isn't that a problem? Hello? Hello?

Maybe it's just me, but I'm annually offended by the suggestion that I MUST BUY something for the woman I love (Natalie) because I clearly don't do enough of it all year round.

Wow. Thanks, Hallmark. I've suddenly realized that I'm a boorish man living in the shell of a relationship that can only be revived through some easy-to-do consumer actions. Yes, thanks a lot.

But, maybe I'm wrong. Are you living in a relationship where the acknowledgment of your flagging love for each other happens once a year on February 14th? If you are, I'm sorry and you have the right to cuss me out in the comments.

This is also linked to my thoughts on birthdays and Christmas... Why be nice to each other, give gifts, have meals together, and celebrate our shared humanity only once a year? Is it so hard to do that more regularly? To give gifts when you see that perfect something for that special someone? To share how you feel when you feel it? To eat good food with good friends when you're hungry and want to talk? Can't we do that more often?

Sigh... maybe we can.

In the meantime, here's a Valentine card that makes me smile.