Valentine's Day and the Single Girl

The calendar on my watch says that today is February 13.  That means tomorrow is February 14.  Valentine's Day.  Not that I could have missed it -- what, with all of the heart-shaped boxes of candy, mylar balloons, and rows of disheveled "when you care enough to send the very best" cards....

Some may think Valentine's Day difficult for the Single Girl.  I used to feel that way.  In times when I did not have a special someone in my life I would get all melancholy as Valentine's Day approached, thinking about all of the happy couples wining and dining and generally celebrating their love.  I would think "Why not me?  That should be me....  I deserve to be happily, madly in love.  I want to be happily, madly in love."

But then I thought about what a let down Valentine's Day could be.  Like the year my boyfriend gave me a frying pan.  Oh, he also got me something that I really wanted (another practical gift), but it was the frying pan - the gift I opened first and in front of a girlfriend visiting from out of town - that really stuck with me.  Now Valentine's Day for me is not about the gift.  In fact, the best gifts cannot be bought in a store but come from the heart.  Still, there was something about receiving a frying pan that was more than a little disappointing.  [Men:  I cannot think of a single solitary instance where a frying pan is an appropriate romantic gift.  If you think your instance is the exception, you are mistaken.]

After The Frying Pan Incident, I had a sense of relief when I did not have to fret over what was an appropriate Valentine's Day gift for a boyfriend of X amount of time or whether the card should be humorous, serious, or maybe a little sexy.  Heaven forbid that I should choose a card too casually and awaken his innate-but-as-of-yet-unseen commitment phobia!

I also started to get annoyed by all of the whining I heard from and/or about the Poor Single Girl, the "How to Survive Valentine's Day Solo" articles.  Survive?  Really?  I mean, here I was a successful, independent woman.  With successful, independent friends.  Fun friends.  We did not need men to buy us flowers (or frying pans) to make us feel loved.  We liked ourselves and we enjoyed each other's company.  So why not celebrate Valentine's Day in girls' night out fashion?  Enter Melony's Single Girls' Valentine's Day Party.

This is the invitation from the first Single Girls' Valentine Party.  (I love this one.)  That year I had a psychic come to tell our love fortunes.  And we had a couple of contests: the worst first date story, the worst break-up story, and, of course, the worst gift received story.  I'm pretty sure my frying pan won the latter.  The prizes were fun, too -- a Mr. Right talking doll that said things like "you are right" and "those jeans sure make you look skinny", an ex-boyfriend voodoo doll, and a little pellet whose instructions to submerge in water gave the promise of growing an instant date (a newly divorced friend got that prize!).  Add a couple bottles of wine, bourbon slushes, and some good food and I can honestly say we had a mighty good time.

I hosted the Single Girls' Valentine Party in some form or fashion for several years.  Then I got away from it.  I think I was out of town one year and never got around to reviving it.  I could kick myself for not doing it this year - I have some really good ideas and a whole new mix of single friends to celebrate!  (I think I'll keep the ideas to myself for now, they could come in handy next year....)

Now don't get me wrong.  I do believe in love.  And I do hope to find my true love someday.  In the meantime, however, I'm perfectly happy to celebrate Valentine's Day with friends and family, or even by myself.  Heck, I'd much rather be happily single than miserably married.  (And being single does have its perks, like getting to pick out my own cookware!)

I will celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow.  I am not yet sure how I will celebrate, but I will celebrate my rich single life.  I will reflect on the wealth of love in my life.  And I will hold past loves in my heart with gratitude . . . even Mr. Frying Pan.

Happy Valentine's Day!

With love,
~ Melony

Comments

[Gail]

I got a giggle about the frying pan. When I was married I once got a vacuum cleaner. Until I met Mr. C I was going through a separation and divorce from 2002-2005. I used to have a happy, "VD Day", ....It would make everyone laugh. I actually sent this to some of my old friends from back home this past weekend. My friend Sara text back, "Only you could turn the most romantic day of the year into a disease". Even though I'm now happy in a relationship I still sometimes miss my single girl days :) Happy Valentine's Day xoxoxoxo

[Melony]

Thanks, Gail, for the comment and the accompanying laugh! : ) I hope you and Mr. C had a nice Valentines Day!!!

[Gail]

I know this has nothing to do with this blog but I came across this post this morning and it has some awesome beginning sewing projects!!! http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2010/02/where-do-you-fall.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FKljm+%2830days%29