The Love Holiday

I realize that most people think of Valentine's Day as a holiday for romance. Perhaps. It is surely advertised to be such a day. But if you are romantically involved, and you are celebrating out, don't you feel like you are reliving prom night?

I cannot think of a Valentine's day/evening where I had somebody special do something special for me. That may sound sad. Perhaps it is. I feel somewhat relieved. Because February 14th has come before, and I have been in romantic relationships, but I have never felt the need to be treated special with chocolate or stuffed Teddy Bears with hearts on them. I have never wanted to be wined and dined on this day. Am I strange? Am I a woman with no desire?

Or am I a woman who prefers genuine affection and spontaneous adornment? Yes, true companionship cannot be capitalized for me.

But I have a friend, and her fiance has made plans, secretly, to take them to a lovely hotel on the beach overnight. Now, that strikes me as beautifully romantic and thoughtful. And somehow it seems appropriate for Valentine's Day. I absolutely support his expression of love for her in that way, even on this day.

And when all of my blogging sounds like bitterness (I am single after all), I am not feeling sad or lonely. I am not wishing that my evening will turn out any other way than what I have planned: one of my dearest friends is cooking me an Italian dish, we may play some guitar, catch up about the daily goings ons and the little surprises in a feel-good day, and watch the movie about Nixon.

In all my wishing and pining for romance in the last year, I am not missing it today at all. In fact, I am glad that my Valentine's Day can expand to include all loves. Valentine's Day is one of my new favorite holidays. I like it better than Christmas. I can express the love I have for my Mom, my Dad, Kerry, my Grandma Elsa, Kristen and Kristin, Jilli, and Jillie, Jannie, and Chloe, and Roman and Tina, David and Kathi, for Sharyn, Sue, Kirsten and Julie, for all the Bill's and all the Bob's, my work peeps and my chiro care friend, Dr. Jeri. With all those to love, why restrict my love to one?

Happy Love Day to you and you and you and you and you and even you. Love is all there is...so they say.