Last Minute Valentine’s Shopping
Not too long ago, I spent some time at a local town center doing some last minute holiday shopping. Frustrated by my own habitual procrastination to purchase holiday gifts, I wasn’t exactly feeling the holiday cheer. As I waited in line and conjured up the various ways by which I could strangle the cashier who moved slower than molasses, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on a group of pre-teen girls carrying on a very heated and almost inhumanly high-pitched discussion. In between all the “like totally’s” and “Oh My God’s,” I understood that they were chatting about a topic that consumes most young girls’ minds: BOYS. One of the girls was so excited and speaking so quickly that if she didn’t have a mouth full of shiny orthodontic equipment, she could have easily beat the Guinness World Record for words per minute. At first I must admit I was getting a bit agitated listening to this teen-bop version of The View, when all of sudden my heart began to palpitate and my stomach flutter. One might suspect the on-set of a panic attack, considering the kind of the day I was having; but what I was feeling was a response to the memories that were flooding my mind. You see, when I was around 11 years old, I set eyes on my first childhood love. I knew that we were going to be together forever. Only problem was that he was not yet aware of this fact. When he finally did ask me go out on a date with him two years later, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
When I got home, I went into my closet and pulled out an old shoebox labeled “Grade School” and began digging through. Underneath some boy band posters and glittery knick-knacks, I found a red foil laminated cover to a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates. Written on the flip side in bubbly cursive was February 14th – 8th grade. I was so glad I had saved this priceless Valentine’s Day treasure! As the saying goes, moments come and go but memories last forever. Yes ladies, diamonds are forever, but chocolate tastes better and is far more accessible. I know I certainly will not turn down the man presenting me with a Ghirardelli Chocolate gift box. However I would like to go against the grain and invite you to open yourself to a more modernistic approach to Valentine’s Day, where all people – those with significant others as well as bachelors and bachelorettes – can celebrate, receive, and give love to those around them.
Now before we get too ahead of ourselves, here’s a little history lesson. There appear to be several legends about how Valentine’s Day came to fruition and became known as the holiday of love. Well according to ancient Romans, this is holiday about love, created by lovers, FOR lovers. As the story goes, Emperor Claudius II cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome because he thought less men were joining his army as the result of not wanting to leave their wives. A priest named Saint Valentine secretly married couples, disregarding the Emperor’s orders, and when he was discovered, good ‘ol St. Val was put to death on February 14th, 270 AD. What a ROME-antic, huh? Another theory rooted back in ancient Rome claims that February 14th was the day that Juno, the Goddess of women and marriage, was honored and celebrated. Calling all gentlemen: Who is the Goddess in your life? Who would you love to smother in Hershey’s kisses … whose fire will you light with some red hot cinnamon hearts?
OK kids, class is almost over. According to my research, during the Middle Ages, folks in England and France believed that birds – yes, our feathery little friends, began the search for their mate on February 14th. Perhaps that is where we get that old saying “love birds.” Who knows… all I know is that whatever the real grassroots of this holiday may be, I am just happy that there is a day dedicated to celebrating love. And not romantic love exclusively – for love has no limitations. Express your affection for your mother, father, or grandparents with a bouquet of chocolate roses. Tell your friends all of the different ways you care without ever having to say a word – just gift them a box of Necco Conversation Hearts!
About the Author
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Cursive – Staying Alive
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No Time for Sleep $4.50 Indie punk/hard rock compilation. TRACKS: 1. Volta Do Mar – Breaking Ribs For Tom Thaye 2. Cursive – The Recluse 3. After the Fall – Flying Not Falling 4. Snake the Cross the Crown – Hot Anger, Soon Cold 5. Velvet Teen – Radiapathy 6. Murder by Death – A Masters in Reverse Psychology 7. Static Age – The Blackout 8. Slowreader – Every Part of Nothing 9. Divide by Zero – Alleys and Ways to Patters… |
