The Best Valentine’s Day Gift

I’ve gotten a lot better at this being alone thing.  But the one thing I have dreaded is today, Valentine’s Day.  The day that singles people everywhere are told that they suck.  It’s the first time in a long time that I have no one to celebrate it with.

Despite all of my declarations about how I was no longer going to subject myself to the media’s brainwashing after the Aqua-Fresh toothpaste incident, I still want to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Yes, its a made-up holiday, but so what.  It’s an excuse to eat chocolate, go to a nice restaurant, give and receive gifts.  It’s a chance to celebrate, and I’ll take any excuse I can get to celebrate.

But I’ve been trying to put this disappointment in perspective.  When I was married, both husbands forgot Valentine’s Day one year, and that really sucked.  So it’s not like being in a relationship guarantees that you’ll have a good Valentine’s Day.  To be honest, most of them haven’t even been that memorable.

In fact, the gifts I remember the most are the ones from my dad.  When I was younger he always bought a heart-shaped box of chocolates for my mom and me.  I had the smaller box, of course.  And last year he gave me this beautiful necklace with a gold heart pendant that says “For my daughter” on one side and “You are my pride and joy” on the other side.  What guy can compete with that?

A few minutes later, Romeo came running down the hall, telling me that he made a card for me.  I had forgotten how quickly you can make a card when you’re a kid.  It was made with blue construction paper and a red crayon.  There were some hearts and a Happy Valentine’s Day on the front.  And inside he wrote that I didn’t need to worry about getting old and that he loved me. Or something to that effect.  I wasn’t able to read it very clearly, what with the tears and all.

After that I understood why parents prefer the cards that their kids spend 5 minutes making over the cards that their kids spend 5 minutes buying at Hallmark.  I have received many Valentine’s Day cards since then, and that one is by far my favorite.