Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

Valentine's day 2009. I was actually excited for it this year. Every other year it was just another passing day, occasionally it was celebrated by getting cards from friends or my mom making a special dinner. But after 5th grade I didn't really get or give too any cards or any candy, and I always felt that the dinner made in my home was for my father while I just happened to eat there. I'd always get candy from my parents, but usually I got the small 5 chocolate boxes while they exchanged the large 50 dollar boxes with each other. Again I was just a second thought. But this year was different. This year I actually had a Valentine of my own. Someone who I could give a meaningful gift to. Who I could make special plans and exchange expensive boxes of chocolate with. I'd been thinking about Valentine's Day for a little while now, as most people with a significant other do. Around the holidays it was just a fleeting thought, but after the New Year I started seriously thinking about that day. What could I do? Would they like it? Is it too cliche'? Everyone knows that the first Valentine's Day you're dating someone is a big deal. It's almost as big as a first date or a first kiss, plus you have the added pressure of all the stores trying to shove their sugary, pink, heart filled wears down your throat or into your shopping cart. You also have to try to decide to do or get something that strikes a fine balance of not freaking the other person out (if you've only been dating someone for a little while you don't want to go about doing something big) while being just thoughtful enough. No one likes to feel short changed, especially on a holiday. But all was not to go as planned for my own holiday. Sometime in early February they dropped the news. My parents wanted to spend the weekend of Valentine's Day in Vermont. And since there was no one for me to stay with I had to go too. I had to spend my first "big" Valentine's Day away from my girlfriend. Well that just about turned me into another Valentine's Day hater. I couldn't understand why it was fair to make me be away from who I wanted to be with while my parents still got to be together. I spent the whole trip dreading the coming days when I should have been at home excited for the surprise yet to come.