Valentines Day – Revel in it.

February 14th is just around the corner – and isn’t it  amazing that one little unremarkable looking day on the calendar,  can be responsible for  euphoric joy, crashing disappointment, or, even worse,  can pass us by unnoticed.  

Valentine’s day is traditionally the day when love can be expressed publicly or anonymously in the form of a card, chocolate or flowers. Who can deny what a fabulous feeling you get if you are lucky enough to get all three, very publicly.  You can then bask in the love you have received, and the thinly disguised envy from all your colleagues who only got a few cards– and you suspect that some of them were self-addressed.  After all it estimated that 1 billion valentines cards are sent every year – but only 25% are sent by men.

 

But what if you get an anonymous card or gift?  Your mind runs from excited flattery, hoping that your secret admirer is a genuine love god, who smells like marshmallows, and not only puts the loo seat down, but knows that the fluffy mat on the floor isn’t to catch the drips; to abject terror when later in the multi-storey car park, you imagine that your love god has turned into a deranged stalker and has an unhealthy obsession with carrier bags.  I myself was once, initially, incredibly flattered to have a note (written in green ink admittedly) pushed under my hotel room door.  It said how sexy I looked that evening. and went on to describe in great detail every item of clothing I was wearing, right down to the heels on my boots, but hey, there is nothing wrong in a man that pays close attention.  I was less impressed when at 2am he started phoning my room, begging me to open the curtains so he could watch me, and by the time he started walking up and down the corridor, past my door, I was completely terrified.   My husband wan’t much help, and suggested I just open the curtains.  He did promise to mention it to the reception desk when we checked out in the morning! 

 

All of this sounds very unromantic – until you remember that in some parts of Europe it is believed that Saint Valentine, was actually so heartbroken when the object of his affection rejected him, that he cut out his own heart, and he sent it, still beating, to his love as a token of his undying love.  I don’t know what courier he used, but you have to admire that type of delivery service.  I am not one to criticise, but our local take-away deliveryman could do with taking notes.  A still beating heart – and mopeds and thermo-boxes weren’t even invented.

 

Anyway, if you are lucky enough to not only get a Valentines Day treat, but also a marriage proposal – spare a thought for your not so lucky in love friends and colleagues – and rub it their faces.  Revel in retelling every detail, exaggerate if you have to, make your proposal sound more romantic with each retelling.  It’s not showing off, it’s not boasting – it’s inspiring.   Think of it as giving hope to all the singletons (or those in relationships with rubbish partners) who’s day will come.     

 

Finally, a top tip for anyone thinking of proposing – chose the location wisely.  You may want to revisit the exact spot in years to come, take your children and grandchildren to see where it all began.  

 

Note to husband:  I am not criticising – but it was slightly awkward taking the children to look through the living room window of no: 20.   But I wouldn’t have it any other way – Happy Valentines Day N.

Tags: Bridal Blogging