Happy Valentine's Day

Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day? Is it so Hallmark, FTD, and See's can make money? I think it's right behind Christmas and Mother's Day as big money makers for the retail industry. You can't turn on the radio without hearing ads telling you to buy your wife a pearl, diamond, or ruby. If you're not married yet, the pressure is to get engaged, NOW, on Valentine's day. Mostly, though, it's a completely manufactured holiday, full of all of the pressure of shopping and buying, reservations at fancy restaurants and romance. Now I know these things don't have to be stressful...but for many people, they are, and the burdon seems to fall heavily on men. Get your girlfriend/wife a gift and a card, or you're toast. Why? Because it's a day for LOVERS. Don't you love her? Come on, fella, buy buy buy! Wouldn't it be nicer to take it easy on V-Day? Give your sweetie a nice kiss and a hug. Celebrate if you wish, buy some flowers and a card, but not the $100 roses. Something simple.

I pretty much feel conflicted about Valentine's day. On the one hand, it's nice. It's nice to remind my husband and my daughter that I love them. But boy, I'm sick of people on the radio/tv/newspaper telling me what it's supposed to be, diamonds, roses, fancy dinner, and romance. As if you can't have romance without those things. As if you can't have romance any day of the year. Do I celebrate Valentine's Day? Yes, sure I do. My husband and I said our first "I Love Yous" close to Valentine's day all those years ago, and I have a smushy spot in my heart for the holiday because of it. But it's because of that time, and because I feel fortunate that I still have him in my life, that I like to celebrate. Not because Tom Shane tells me I need new pearls.

If you're all out of ideas, though, how about plastic surgery?