Valentine's Day

It's funny how your perceptions change over time.  Having a birthday a week and a half before Valentine's Day meant that, I was pretty much focused on my birthday and never got super excited about V-Day.  I mean I'd better get a good number of Valentine's when the kids in the class started passing them out and one year Mum made adorable heart shaped mini-cakes for everyone in my class for my birthday (with their NAMES on them.  Mum doesn't do things half way), but it was no Halloween or Easter.

As a teenager I quite quickly came to the conclusion that it was an over-rated non-holiday constructed by card, chocolate and flower companies.  In that self-righteous way that belongs to teenagers I felt that you shouldn't need a specific date to remind you that you were in love.  I'm sure none of this was due to the fact that I didn't ever have a boyfriend on Valentine's Day.

Then you get older and real life kicks in and you realise that sometimes you really do need a date, a special occasion to remind you to do something more than make supper, handle chores, feed the pets, watch some television and crash out.  I don't necessarily think is has to be Valentine's Day when everything suddenly seems incredibly expensive.  I certainly don't think Tiffany's boxes or lingerie need to be purchased.  You should probably just stick with the chocolate that isn't in a heart shaped box or pink and red foil... it's cheaper... you can buy MORE of it.  But sometimes we need some markers to remind us all to appreciate each other whether it be a birthday, an anniversary, a reunion... whatever it might be.

Happy Valentine's Day.