February 13, 2008

• The Decade of Valentines

  Begin the Obligatory Valentine’s Day Commentary:

  In case it’s not clear, and for those of you who haven’t been privvy to the other sites, this will be my First Ever Valentine’s Day alone. Single. Un-Valentined.

  Well, Fuck.

  I came to the realization less than a week ago. It was one part sad and two parts freeing. It was while browsing around a department store that I took a wrong turn and ended up at the fragrant boundary between fine watches and men’s colognes when a delectably tingling scent sent my primal brain into overdrive. I growled and prowled to the perfume counter, sniffing like a barbaric cave woman, hunting through the myriad of spice and musk until I found a plain blue bottle. Picking it up, I inhaled deeply and my legs turned to liquid, my spine arched, and I bit my lip to hold back a needy whimper.
  Placing the bottle back on the counter with a loud thunk to get the attention of some hapless customer service representative, my mind woke up a little to remind me (goddamn it!) that I had no one to buy it for. Huh……
  I wanted to be bitter – as is the norm if one is to go by the endless banality spouted in American sitcoms. I wanted to complain loudly and to anyone within hearing distance that I would be un-Valentined this year. I wanted to partake in ex-boyfriend paraphernalia pyromancy, all-single-people-only bitter dinner and sleepover, or any other rite of passage for individuals who are Valentine-bereft. Alas, and ironically, I could not find it in my heart – that feeling of indignation and entitlement. Valentine’s Day is for Lovers celebrating each other, for fuck’s sake! Just as I am not Jewish or Chinese, would I spite them their respective holidays? And for crying out loud, I’ve gotten enough Valentines in the last decade to soothe my pride – do I really need to be greedy and demand more out of the universe?
  So, to all of you who happen to be on the brink of a new relationship, or those who are marking another milestone on a journey with your soul mate, have a lovely Valentine’s day. As for the rest of us, a toast to remembering a past love – if only for one poignant moment – and wishing them the best wherever they are, and a toast to hopeful possibilities that may, someday, give us what our hearts desire.

  • 1:41 pm
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