A Short Valentine's Day Essay

Heart shaped boxes of chocolate and red roses are two articles I associate most with Valentine's Day. Those conversation hearts (BE MINE) are a cornerstone of the holiday as well.

Of course the Valentine cards are perhaps the most important item. Do you remember getting a card from each of your classmates? Sometimes the card included a piece of chewing gum. But, if a piece of gum wasn't included it was kind of disappointing. “No gum? Oh, come on! Where's the love?” Perhaps students aren't allowed to exchange Valentine cards and candy now. Celebrating holidays in school seems to have become more complicated.

In third grade I gave my “girlfriend” TWO Valentine cards because I decided ONE just wasn't enough to express my deep feelings for her. I think my older sister suggested that one of the cards should be a Disney card featuring Lady and the Tramp. What a couple!

You remember the spaghetti scene from the movie, right? The accidental kiss. Then Tramp uses his nose to roll the last meatball over to her. He wanted her to have the last meatball! How romantic!

When I was older and in high school, I could buy carnations from some club or organization at school. They sold red, pink, and white carnations. I suppose red symbolized love. I think I bought and received carnations.

When I was a freshman I bought my girlfriend a pair of chocolate lips wrapped in red foil. Seems kind of embarrassing in hindsight. On the other hand, what could express my affection better than chocolate lips?  

 

 

I gave another girlfriend in high school a Care Bear one year. It had a red heart on its tummy. My mother is a great seamstress so she made it. My girlfriend named it Tara so its name would begin with a T like Tharin.

Another year I bought her one single red rose which I unceremoniously pulled from behind my seat at the end of our date. Voila! She said she was going to preserve it and save it FOREVER. That didn't happen. It just wilted eventually. Like our relationship!

During my college days, my girlfriend and I had dinner in the cafeteria one Valentine's Day. They were serving prime rib and lobster tail. Lobster tail? Is that possible? Maybe it was some kind of imitation lobster product called Loobster^TM.

She was angry with me that day. We hadn't been getting along very well so I didn't buy her anything for Valentine's Day. She complained that I hadn't even gotten her one single flower. I pointed out that she hadn't gotten me anything either but she was having none of it. 

“It's the boyfriend's job to plan a wonderful Valentine's Day for his girlfriend,” she said.

So, there you go. You might as well not try arguing with a woman about romance.

During my freshman year of college, a female sent me some roses and signed it From Your Secret Admirer. Don't you hate that! How can I ask you out if I don't know who you are?

During my adulthood, I had an eating disorder for several years so I wasn't much interested in candy or romance. But, there have been periods where I've been healthier. During one of those healthier periods I met a woman who I developed a close relationship with.

When Valentine's Day came around I made her four small origami creations and put each one in its own little envelope. She opened them all and with each one looked more and more surprised. She said she'd been given flowers several times before but nothing like this. I guess I'll never top that.

She made a gift for me too. She printed a haiku she'd written on a piece of paper with several hearts bordering it.

The haiku read:

You: You mean so much

My trust you value as such

Sweet too, is your touch

I doubt I'll ever inspire another woman to write poetry ever again in my lifetime.

The Valentine's Day I remember the most vividly was when I went to my girlfriend's apartment and she was dressed in some sexy red lingerie and holding a riding crop in her hand and told me to meet her in the bedroom. Ha ha. Oh, calm down people! I'm totally joking! Gawd!

Happy Valentine's Day!