Happy Valentine’s Day. I know that some people feel that Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday made to sell roses, chocolate and cards but I disagree. I also know that some people feel that Valentine’s Day is a day to make those not “In Love” to feel shunned, alone and depressed. Which still promotes the chocolate industry because who has not bought themselves a box of chocolates and sat on the kitchen floor eating them  watching “Love Actually” until they are all gone. Maybe that was just me. But none the less, today is Valentine’s Day and I love a holiday.

I love any Holiday. Hell, I have been known to celebrate Groundhog Day. I also believe that you can make any day a Holiday. There is just so much to celebrate. A lost tooth, a good day at work, finishing a Boot Camp without hurting yourself or anyone else……so many celebrations but the best ones are those that become a tradition. My father was my first valentine. Until we were married he sent my sisters and me something for Valentine’s Day every year. When we were little it was always a small box of candy. As we became older and were away at school and the such he sent card. Without a doubt every Valentine’s Day I could be assured that no matter what was happening in my love life I would have a Valentine for Feb. 14 and I was loved.

My Dad stopped the Valentine’s tradition when I got married. He passed the bow and arrow (get it? bow and arrow? I kill myself) on to The Saint. Sweet Mother of God, The Saint is not good at traditions, gifts, surprises or anything celebratory. He is good at a lot of things but Valentine’s day is not one of them. Our first Valentine’s  Day together he gave me a potted plant. A potted plant that did not even have a flower blooming on it…..ever. He said “Not for nothing but flowers die and this plant will live a lot longer”. He also gave me a card with a Hippo on the front of it. Romantic, right? So by the time Marissa came along I was over him not being into celebrating every little thing like I was but I did want Marissa  to have the same experience I had with my Father on Valentine’s day. So I stressed to The Saint how important this tradition was to me and I wanted him and Marissa to have the same special tradition, he agreed. So, for Marissa’s first Valentine’s Day I reminded him to do something a week before, 2 days before and the day before Feb. 14.

On Valentine’s Day I had Marissa dressed in a sweet red dress and the camera ready to document her first Valentine from her Daddy. We waited and waited for him. He was late. When he finally did walk in the door he sheepishly explained that Walgreens was packed with last-minute Valentine’s Day shoppers, all of them men. But, not to fear he had something for his baby girl. I held Marissa in my lap and happily helped her open the gift bag. Inside there was a little purple bag with a white bunny inside of it and the bag said “Hoppy Easter”. What!?!?! As Marissa stuffed the bunny into her mouth I looked at The Saint for explanation and he proudly explained that there was nobody in the Easter Aisle because they were all crowded into the Valentine aisle. Nice. Reason # 3,789 I drink and why I continue to buy myself a big box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day, it gets bigger every year, and sit on the floor eating them  watching “Love Actually” until it is all gone.

Happy Valentine’s Day. Will you be mine?

The Noise In My Head ………( and it is singing “Every Kiss begins with K”. Damn you Kay Jewelers!)