My thoughts on a page.

It sounds so simple.
Its a day to say to someone “I Love You”

.Wrong!
Valentines Day is a special day dedicated to “hallmark”.

Cleverly they have sold it to us, as a day we show our loved ones, how much we love them, by buying them cards and gifts.
.
What we buy is a test. Pass or Fail?

But what is the correct thing to do?
Buy too much, you look needy, too little you look mean.
No pressure but you have just one week left to decide!

I think it all depends on where you are in life.

When I was a teenager it was all about wishing.

Hoping to see if I got a card from a “someone in particular”.
When I did get a card full of rhymes about “sugar and spice”, and “pyjamas being close to my nightie”. It was never signed.
That didn’t matter, in my head I had got it from the “One”.

Then I met my “One”.

Valentines Day was now about wondering.

How much thought went into the gift and card (now a gift was also expected) showed his depth of Love for me.
Would I get flowers, a teddy or love heart cushion, a card, a romantic meal?
Maybe all the above?
Not only would I now know how much he loved me, more importantly I could show my girlfriends!
Valentine Days came and went. We became very much an item.

Valentines day was now a huge test.
A test my boyfriend was unaware of!

One year sticks out in my mind.
We were living in Australia.
I was great friends with another girl, Paula.
We were the same age and both newly engaged.
Paula and I discussed Valentines day, and came to the conclusion, it was a marketing rip off.
We decided we were boycotting it! We obviously believed our cheap cards would make a big impact on “Hallmark”
I went home and told my boyfriend he was to get me nothing.
No cards, flowers, teddies, etc. We were not going to participate in the charade.
He, being an accountant, was delighted!

Valentines Day came and went. We exchanged hugs and kisses and stuck with our boycott.

The following day I went into work
Paula met me. We chatted. I commented on my lack of valentines day.
Others joined in and spoke of their romantic day or night and the gifts they received.
I looked at Paula.
She began to give an account of the dozen roses she received.
I was horrified. What about our boycott?
“Oh that, she said, “Alan knows me better than to believe I really meant that”

I went home in a rage.

How could my partner not care enough to ignore my wishes and spoil me?
Did he not know me at all?
My partner was at a loss. Damned if you do, and damned if you dont.

The next day I returned to work. There I discovered Paula had lied!
Alan had not marked the day in any way.
She had lied knowing she would drive me wild.
She had spent the previous night laughing at the thought of the scene in my house.

Needless to say I didn’t tell my partner the truth.
All I said was that “I had forgiven him”.

I would advise always marking the day.

Nowadays the smaller the gift the more personal.
Its just to show me he loves me.
Girlfriends opinions don’t figure. (My girlfriends I hasten to add, not his!).

As the years have gone by he has understandably remained nervous about valentines day.

All I can say is he must be doing something right as I cannot remember valentines day last year, and everyone knows if our partner gets it wrong we never forget!
He obviously passed the test.