Valentine's Day......

I am your average everyday female.......well, maybe not.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.....if you're female - you know this. If you're male and in a relationship of ANY kind - you better know this!!! UNLESS......you are my boyfriend, because if you are MY boyfriend then you already know that I think....

Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday!!!

YES!

You read that right!!! H-A-L-L-M-A-R-K Holiday!!!!

I actually feel badly for the masses of the male sex that run out like chickens with their heads cut off.....trying desperately to find that perfect gift for their mate. The whole hour between the time they get off work and the time they get home...is a mad dash through whatever mall or store is on their way home........I especially feel bad when I see them en masse at Walgreens pouring over the already scoured greeting cards, just looking for that one card left that doesn't say - "I love you Mom". They're usually standing 3 deep, reaching over each other, snatching card after card until they hit gold. THEN...comes the mad dash through the candy aisle where they dig like mad for a heart shaped box that is not crushed, torn, or smashed......and so on and so on....This same scene is played at the grocery stores where they do the previous but added to it is the florist department dig, petals every where.

I feel badly but I have to tell you, it's very comical!!

They do all of this in a sad attempt to please their female counter parts. Knowing that if they arrive empty handed, the wrath of all time will come crashing down around them. The crying will ensue, doors will be slammed, and things will be broken. It is their inevitable fate.

The interesting flip side to this is the female.....

While the males are doing their Valentine's Day freak out, the females are lying in wait like lionesses waiting to pounce. While they have been, what they think, as subtly dropping hints for two weeks about this love and romance filled day, they are POSITIVE their mate has forgotten. Secretly in their minds they are already forming the tirade that will no doubt happen when the men come home empty handed. The females are going over, in detail, EVERYTHING they have done for their mates....from home cooked meals to the lovingly red foil wrapped gift adorning the entertainment center......Then suddenly they start to imagine that the men actually put forth effort this year!!! It won't be like last and maybe they all got those diamond necklaces or earrings they hinted at.....just maybe!!!

Then the time comes.........

He walks in the door......

She excitingly runs to greet him......

He hugs her and hands her his hard fought for gifts - a rumpled card, box of no name chocolate, and roses that will die tomorrow......

She fakes a smile and says "oh...you remembered"........

It's the same scene played year after year. After many years, I came to a conclusion.......

I don't need a single day of the year for someone to prove to me that they love me.

Nope. I prefer to look at the little things that happen everyday. Such as:

Doing the dishes when I'm tired.

Washing my car because it's nice outside.

Throwing in a load of laundry cause you saw it needed to be done.

The hug and kiss for no particular reason.

These are the things you should be happy about, things you should be grateful for......not over priced flowers or candy that people feel forced to buy on this holiday that makes us all crazy!!!

If you're a guy and reading this....I know what you're thinking.....

THIS IS A TRICK!! If I listen to you...I'm a dead man!!!

If you're a gal and reading this....I know what you're thinking....

SHUT UP!!! I might get those diamonds this year!!!!

Don't bet on it.......