From The Archives: Valentine's Day

I was looking for something on one of my flash drives when I stumbled across a folder of stuff from my early days in college. I took a look at it and laughed myself silly as I read it.

It's funny to look back at older things that you've written every now and then. It allows you to see how you've evolved as a writer as you search out your voice.

It also gives you a chance to mock youself by saying, "Wow. That kid was a big old fucking tool."

I do recall that this was one of the pieces that I submitted when I applied to be a columnist for one of the campus newspapers. I got the gig. Which shows just how low that bar was I guess.

Anyway, laugh along with me as I look back at 18 year old Dave and see what he thought of February 14. Enjoy this, my Valentine's Day present to all of you:

Well, it’s the start of a new year, and we all know what that means. It’s that time of year, for all of those to either be very happy or very sad. It’s Valentine’s Day, an occurrence that, for some, means a time to show how much you love someone, and for others, a time to cry into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.

Okay, maybe this is a defeatist attitude, but this is what I see: Guys running around, trying to make plans and reservations at the last minute, only to find out that everything is either booked or sold out, and then he is forced into the uncomfortable position of trying to find something for his girlfriend so she won’t think that he’s some unfeeling jerk.

Then there are those of us without anyone, and we are forced to stare at all of the decorations, and at all of the packages and flowers that are co-workers or residents of the dorm we live in get, and we’re supposed to be happy for them. Why? This Hallmark Holiday is one of the few ones where I don’t get the warm, fuzzy feeling that I am supposed to. Maybe that is because I have never had anyone on Valentine’s Day, and I am bitter. Hmm...

Many people think that I am weird because of my Valentine’s Day tradition of wearing all black. However, I am happy to see that I am not the only one that has this tradition. Since I have come to school, I have met many people who feel the same way. Now, this year I will be wearing all black. I also will be attending a party thrown by one of my best friends. In reality, I hope that this party doesn’t become a tradition for us, because that would be bad.

I think that my opinion on Valentine’s Day has changed a little bit for the better since high school. I still think that it’s a stupid holiday that makes men broke and Hallmark rich. Now, I know that some of you reading this might get upset, but I think that it’s the truth, in some cases. I’m not saying that all men are going to have to break the bank, but a large majority will. And I feel that that’s sad. But there isn’t much that we can do about it, because that is the nature of our society. Buy, buy, buy to impress. That’s what we do.

Maybe things will be different if I had someone to buy for this Valentine’s Day. I would still be wearing black, however. That is just the way that I am. And I think that it’s going to be a while before that changes.

I don’t have a problem with being happy. As long as you have someone, then be happy. I am actually not that sad when I am alone and I think that a lot of people are like me in that respect. My main problem, and I’ll end on this note, is this: I don't think that this holiday is that big a deal, yet advertisers continue to make it seem much more important than it is. If we actually consider what goes into this holiday instead of how much we should spend to impress, then maybe some of the resounding bitterness and loneliness that comes from this day would dissipate.