Monday, February 14, 2011

melt down

You’d be surprised how many people do not celebrate Valentine’s Day. A meaningless day, my students tell me. Hallmark stuff. No substance behind it.

Well, yes, but isn’t a celebration of love a sweet idea? I listen to the two women selling espresso on campus talk about their evening plans. Doing anything? One asks. We went out to eat yesterday... today we’re eating the leftovers and watching a romantic movie.

So what’s unpleasant about that, you Valentine's Day detractors, you?

I’m told that Valentine’s Day is the third largest gift giving holiday on the calendar. (After Christmas and Mother’s Day). So I ask my class – you’re not much into Mother’s Day either, I suppose? Huh.

Of course, my occasional traveling friend is downright oppositional to the very idea of calendar days that require you to be a certain way, or do things outside of your personal inclination. Me, well honestly, I don’t place immense significance in Hallmark days, but I do get feisty at the idea that I haven’t a choice in the matter.

But, ultimately, the day is marked not by any Valentine, but by the weather. Sunny and warm. Or, as warm as you could possibly hope for on February 14. Snow-melting warm. Shed the puffy jackets warm. Puddles warm. Warm.

DSC05511 - Version 2


I leave work when the streams of melting snow make sidewalks shine and those walking home quite happy indeed.

3 comments:

  1. Happy Valentine's Day anyway! Nice to see it's finally warming up.

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  2. My wife and I are not tied to "special days" either, but we do celebrate. I get around the Hallmark thing by making my own cards for her. It helps that I'm an artist. Today I handed her our 40th Valentine's Day card and the look on her face was priceless. I only found out recently that she has saved every card I've ever made for her -- 40 years of birthday, valentine and anniversary cards. I guess the look on my face was priceless, too.

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  3. Amazing that it melted enough to see the sidewalks. I don't suppose they will be snow-free for any length of time, though.

    I've been married 21 years and this Valentine's Day I got flowers for the first time ever from him. He's in the hospital, and nurse's aides came around offering to order and sent on the patient's behalf to loved ones. Nice touch. He probably wouldn't have thought of it on his own, though.

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