I told some people to expect a snarky post on Valentine's Day, so I'm sorry that this is a) late and b) snarkless (kind of like Sue Sylvester in this season of Glee).
I got in a slight debate about Valentine's Day with someone on monday, as I was doing my single duty of proclaiming its existence as a way for greeting card companies and candy companies to make bank. Ya know, the man and all that. Well, since I know this isn't true but I don't know the real story behind it, I decided to check out every college kid's go-to research site. Wikipedia, of course! Weirdly enough, I have had quite a few professors encourage the use of said search engine, what is the world coming to!? Anyway, in the shortened version of how Valentine's day came to be, there was a fertility festival called Lupercalia that the crazy Romans came up with and since it was a pretty raunchy holiday, the Pope abolished it in the 400s and left us St. Valentine's Day. Don't quote me on this, because, despite popular belief, Wikipedia doesn't know EVERYTHING (see: my french review sheet). Now, since I have stolidly maintained the tradition of being single for 20 years (no applause, please) I have had my fair share of Valentines hate (mah b). But this year, whether it was because I'm so busy with school I don't have time to think about anything else or some other reason, I didn't have any time to spend being cynical about February 14th. If you think about it, it is rather ridiculous that Valentine's Day has turned into some sort of "Couples Only" holiday. While that tradition may date back to the middle ages and chivalry and courtly love, it doesn't have to be that way. One of my beloved friends left me a box of GIANT chocolate covered strawberries and an adorable balloon and my wonderful parents sent me cards. Instead of feeling bitter that you don't have a "valentine" to share the day with, or turning the day into some huge competition to see who can spend the most on flowers, chocolate, and jewelry or have the most romantic candle-lit, fireworks exploding, cupids fluttering night, we should remember that, since this is a holiday we seem to be stuck with, we should use the opportunity to cherish all of those that we love. (the english major in me hates that that is a huge run-on sentence, but the blogger in me fails to care.) Love comes in many different forms and without these different types, our lives would be flat and meaningless. While this is something that should apply to our everyday lives, it is nice that we get to take a day to be extravagant with our love; I think that's the way it should always be.
Now, instead of quoting 1 corinthians 13 at you (and yes, I will be rebelling at my wedding and refuse to read it then too, sorry), I will give you a little dose of culture and William Shakespeare. I know, you just cringed and you're trying to control your gag reflex at the thought of high school and Romeo + Juliette, just push through your prejudices and humor me. This is, after all, MY blog.
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
admit impediment. Love is not love,
which alters when it alteration finds,
or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
which looks on tempests and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark,
whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not, with his brief hours and weeks,
but bears it out, even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
Now, if that was not your cup of tea, let me 2011-ize it for you:
Love never changes, even if the object of its love does and true love cannot be taken away. Not even Hurricane Ike can shake it and it is a guiding star. Love is not subject to time, youth, or beauty and true love will last through even the fires of Mordor (LOTR reference, whoops).
Now, maybe it's just the english major in me, but something in that sonnet resonates with me just as much as 1 Corinthians 13.
So, even though it's a day late, Happy Valentine's Day! Don't forget to tell those you love that you love them, not just today but every day.
