Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Why I Hate Valentine's Day

Or 101 ways to break my heart.



Happy Wednesday My Friends! Help Spread the word and save our children from the indignities of Valentine's Day.


There’s a group of us that are boycotting Valentine’s Day for various reasons. Some are doing so because of the crassness and commercialism that has taken over the day. Me, I’m doing it because truth be told, I hate Valentine’s Day. I think it was a holiday invented by happy people to kick lonely people in the gut a few times. It started with me in elementary school. I was one of those kids who sat in class and watched while all of the other kids received valentines. Then later, when teachers began to make the class give valentines to everyone in the class – I received some that said “Happy Valentine’s Day, you stink” and other less loving sayings. I don’t understand how the valentine company’s that make the packages for children would print such terrible ones, but they do. Later in high school it was Valentinegrams. These were purchased and filled out by the sender, then delivered to classrooms by people on the Valentine committee (I guess). I never received any of those either. Neither did I have a boyfriend during the Valentine season – I was always alone. Sometime in my 20s mom began giving me one long-stem rose for Valentine’s Day. Even in the grips of Alzheimer’s, she would still remember to have Bebo get my rose. Last year was the first time I didn’t receive one in 20 years. But still, it’s a bit pathetic when your mother is your only Valentine.

So, there will be no Valentine’s from me, no MySpace comments either. I’m boycotting.

18 comments:

Brandy said...

I understand this, but as I have kids that are looking forward to Valentine's Day......
Chris and I don't really do anything special for Valentine's day though.

Amie Stuart said...

VD is a social disease that needs to be stopped!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm thoroughly sick of all the Valentine's hoopla, too. Make it stop!

Anonymous said...

I'm w/ AmieS - stamp out VD now!

Melissa McClone said...

Hugs, Bailey.

I actually love the day as do my kids, but it took me awhile to get here :-)

Dru said...

It's just a regular day on the calendar to me.

Unknown said...

My place is a VD free zone. :)

Hugs!

Anonymous said...

WOW! where is the romance here????

Not that I have a big thing for Valentine's Day...and so, until I got married I too never got a valentine from someone who was not forced to do so, or my parents...

We don't usually do much in the way of celebrating...we will go out to dinner...but then we go out to dinner every weekend usually!

Remember is it really just a time to remind those you love that you still love them!!!! So Happy Valentine's Day my friend :)

Oh and we close on our new house on the 29th :) I am so excited :)

Bailey Stewart said...

But that's just it Glenice. Why do we have to have a special day to tell someone that we love them. Why can't we do that all of the time?

I understand with the kids Brandy - you go right on and lavish them.

Amie - I still get a laugh out of VD. But yeah - stamp it out!

Tori - spread the word - make it stop!

I'm that way about Christmas Melissa - while people are screaming about the crassness and commercialism of the day - I love it.

Atta girl Dru.

Yes, I know Lee - thank you.

And yes, again Glenice - a few romance writers who hate Valentine's Day - you can add JoAnn Ross into that group too. And yay on the house!!!!

Barrie said...

Oh, ikes. I don't think I can boycott Valentne's Day. Not that I really do much. But I was planning to treat myself to a mocha latte and give my kids a little chocolate. But I do promise not to make a big deal of it. :)

Ranurgis said...

Bailey, you spoke from my heart. I just saw a card again yesterday that my mother made for me 14 years ago. She wrote: "So glad to still have one of my special Valentines at home with me!"

Of course, that one's no longer available either.

I guess I'm not really anti-Valentine's Day. It's just a day that has no real meaning for me.

Ruby55

Unknown said...

I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It's way too commercial. And anyway, hubby forgot. He forgot! :o)

Spy Scribbler said...

Hubby always remembers, I always forget. I'm more of a day-to-day romantic. I tell him I celebrate it 365 days a year ... how the heck am I supposed to remember the one day he decides to celebrate it???

Bailey Stewart said...

Barrie, as long as you promise to keep it low-key.

Bailey Stewart said...

Hi Ruby. How sweet - yes, I'm coming across quite a few things while cleaning out closets and the such. They can tear at your heart.

Bailey Stewart said...

See Shirley, if it were just any other day, he wouldn't be in the dog house.

Bailey Stewart said...

That's it Natasha. Why can't people be romantic and tell the people that they love how they feel about them 365 days a year? Why such a fuss about one day?

Kate Johnson said...

Oh Bailey, I'm so with you (and I'm late, yeah sue me). It's always seemed to me to be a holiday designed to celebrate smugness. As if the loved-up coupledom wasn't enough, they have to go and splash it around everywhere. Where's the special day for those of us who get through 365 days of the year without anyone to come home to?

Plus, two years ago my cat died on Valentine's Day. As if it didn't suck enough already.