The Sometimes Dreaded Valentine's Day

One of the things I have always appreciated in my life is the different perspectives the people around me have on almost everything. With February just starting, my mind ran on one of these persons and the take she had on Valentine's Day a couple years ago. She wore full black and reproached (jokingly, I should add) those of us who while we may not have been wearing red, decided to look extra cute on the day in an adorable powder blue dress with white peep-toe flats. I thought back to this and wondered, what really is the deal with Valentine's Day (and I don't mean the origins)? Most of the people who I know would rather wear full black and lament that there is nothing to get all excited about.

But indulge me for a second. Let's think about it from the other side. Now I am not saying you need to look like one of those GM tomatoes they sell in the supermarket and wear full red (or better yet PINK *wink*) nor am I saying that you have to have a special guy (or girl. I don't judge) to celebrate a day that has been branded in our minds by way of cupid, hearts, flowers and teddy bears. However.........I am all about deconstructing and reinterpreting those same things that society uses to define us in one way or the other.

Did you ever make Valentine cards for your parents or friends when you were little? If not don't worry, you'll know why I asked in a minute. Children do things just to show persons that they are loved (and there is very little if any romance happening at that stage). So I decided that even though Valentine's Day is traditionally for lovers *chuckle* I would make it into something that really meant something to me. So what did I do? In a bout of silly, I went on one knee and asked one of my best friends to be my Valentine. She nearly collapsed laughing. We decided that we would be extra nice to each other for this special day. Just something out of the ordinary. Plus, I decided that it had been a while since I had done something for my mother, who lately has been under a bit of stress from work, so I would do a special care package to send home to her as well. So what better way to take a day, designed for lovers (perhaps by Cupid, a saint or the capitalists in order to make money) and make it about the people who really count.

So for those of you who may be making a conscious effort to wear black and be grim, and reproach those of us who find any excuse to be cutesy and wear pink (yes I mean myself), forget being consciously against Valentine's Day and use it as that perfect opportunity to show somebody (who you know might need a pick-me-up) that they are extra special. It'll be so worth the energy you spend, that you may not even remember to wear black ;)