Valentines Day

Friday 14th February

For years I bought Valentines cards.  Often it was heartfelt, occasionally jokey, once or twice a real mystery and many many times an obligation.  When the relationship is young and love is in the air every opportunity to impress upon your loved one the strength of your feeling is grasped.  Presents are bought, the racks of cards are examined and rejected – only the most expensive hand-made beautiful card will do.  Oh, and a present, mustn’t forget a present.

This is how we wrap around our lust, decorating it, embellishing it with feelings of true love.  And maybe we do love too.  Love is such an elusive feeling.  We all desperately want it, and just as much as to love we desire to be loved.  Unrequited love is a barren road to nowhere that will eventually peter out into a rutted mud-track, and sooner or later you will abandon the task of hauling the heavy cart of hope along it.   As love settles down and that neediness subsides and we realise that actually the loved is yours, then ‘be mine’ assumes even more pointlessness.

At some point most couples mutually decide to stop celebrating Valentines day.  Mind you it is still a great marketing tool, with cards and flowers and chocolates and small gifts and meals out still going strong.   It is the first big mini-spend after Christmas, closely followed by Mothers day and Easter.  The self-imposed Austerity that follows Christmas is lightened and wallets are loosened by Valentines Day.

So, will I be buying a Valentines card today (Thursday)?  Not sure.  Maybe.  Even if we will be starting out very early for half-term in France again.  I will just wait to see how the mood takes me. Hope the weather is better in France.