Valentine's Craziness

February 08, 2011

So it’s February 8^th, which to me means that it’s 11 days after my birthday, 33 days until St. Patrick’s Day, and the middle of NCAA basketball season. To the world around me, though, it means that it’s 6 days until Valentine’s Day.

I hate Valentine’s Day. Wait. That’s not exactly true. After all, I like pink. I eat conversation hearts by the handful (and stockpile them once they go on sale for half price in the stores). And, I can even be talked into watching a cheesy romance every once in a while. My irritation with Valentine’s Day has more to do with all the stores and all the lovebirds putting so much pressure on everyone to buy flowers, candy, cards, and go to the extreme to prove to the world how much we love someone.

Think I’m making this up? Guess again. I got the following facts from an article published on the Business Insider website today.

• The average U.S. consumer is expected to spend $116.21 on Valentine’s Day gifts, meals, and entertainment.
• 141 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged worldwide.
• Over 100 million roses will be sold and delivered on or near Valentine’s Day this year.
• More than 1,000 billion dollars will be spent on candy and chocolate during Valentine’s season.

Even more interesting to me are the crazy things people do to display their devotion. Here are some examples I’ve heard about from people around the library.

• I bought my boyfriend a hand-crafted doll that looked like me when we were at separate colleges so he could still have me with him on the holidays.
• I got a Mohawk, because my girlfriend told me it would look cool.
• On our second date, my boyfriend drank a whole Skyscraper Shake by himself to impress me. Then he puked on my car.
• I let my wife get a puppy, and even though it chews up everything, I don’t complain.
• When my husband and I first started dating, he showed up at a weight-lifting class I was in and lifted way too much (to impress me with his macho muscles, I guess). When we left afterwards, he couldn’t even walk because he was hurting so much.
• I got a tattoo of my girlfriend’s face on my back.
• My boyfriend carved my name into his chest with a pocket knife. We broke up pretty soon after that, because I decided he was crazy.
• I proposed at the top of a rollercoaster, and I’m terrified of heights.
• My boyfriend branded my name on his arm. All the frat guys were doing it, I guess.
• I flew to Spain to visit my girlfriend when she was homesick while studying abroad.
• I drove all night after a long day at work to bring my boyfriend breakfast and flowers the next morning.

So, what will you do on Valentine’s Day? Something typical? Something crazy? Something that ignores the so-called holiday altogether? I’m curious to hear more. 

~Erin D.