A Special Love Between The Two of Us…And Everyone Else

Yep…Valentine’s Day approaches. A wonderful day that’s all about the very personal sense of love and caring that intimate companions hold for one another. But there’s a problem. A wrench has been thrown in the proverbial holiday works! People everywhere face a huge dilemma, because they cannot properly celebrate this love! This year, Valentine’s Day falls on (dun dun DUN)…a SUNDAY!!!!

So why is this an issue? Why indeed. Today, as I came into work, I found a flower delivery person waiting at the security desk. He had no fewer than 20 bouquets standing around him, on the floor and at the desk, as security tried to contact the recipients of his parcels. I thought to myself that it was funny that so many were getting flowers at once, and then said, “Oh yeah! Valentine’s Day!”

But, wait. It’s not Valentine’s Day. Surely, that special day doesn’t fall for two more days. So why, I wondered, would someone deliver flowers to someone at work…two days early? Why not pick them up and deliver them personally…on VALENTINES DAY? Perhaps over an intimate dinner? Perhaps with morning coffee in bed? Why send them to work so that your spouse (or whatever) has to then carry the flowers all the way home on the subway or train? What an inconvenience!

Of course, we all know it doesn’t work that way. Valentine’s Day isn’t about a special personal love held between two people. It’s about conspicuous acts of affection and courtship meant as a display for everyone. Like holding hands in public, it is a way to announce to the world that “I got mine….and here he/she is.” All the better if that announcement can be combined with some gloating that your significant other is buying you hundred dollar bouquets, or taking you out for expensive meals at fancy restaurants. It might even be okay if he just does something very sweet and thoughtful for you….as long as you can tell the world about it on Facebook or something.

Don’t deny it….search your feelings. We all know why you really wanted those cheap-o valentines in third grade…because the one with the most got bragging rights.