I’ve never been a big Valentine’s Day person, meaning I've never expected big, fancy dinners or expensive gifts. Rather, I'm perfectly happy with a home-made card and a nice dinner at home, because in my opinion, Valentine's Day has become way too commercialized. All around, restaurants and stores use this holiday as an opportunity to shamelessly gouge you -- e.g. A very special Valentine's Day prix fixe menu! (read:don't expect to spend less than $50 per person). And by the way, don't even get me started on Sweetest Day, which in my opinion, is the most egregious example of a made-up holiday designed solely to boost retail sales.
I still remember an incident that occurred over ten years ago, when K and I were seriously dating. He bought me a breathtakingly beautiful diamond necklace during one Valentine’s Day--it was long and intricate, with beads of diamond laced into white gold. But it was also big and flashy; not exactly my style as I’m a simple gal. Besides, I knew that he was saving up his hard-earned money to buy me an engagement ring (a feat, if you're living in NYC with sky-high rent), so why should I impose a further drain on his resources on a purchase that I didn’t need?
So we trudged back to the jewelry store together so that I can exchange it for something simpler and less expensive. We explained to the sales lady our situation, and wanted to see if she can recommend a better alternative for me. And you know what she said to me? She actually said, “You silly, silly girl. You should take what he buys you, and demand more.” I had to bite my lips from saying: “You stupid, stupid old gold-digger. This isn’t the '50s anymore.” But I was as polite as can be, picking an simple necklace that cost half the amount despite her grumblings.
In the end, Valentine’s Day is not about jewelry, or nice dinner, or bouquets of flowers. It’s about taking the time to realize how lucky I am to be with two people I love more than anything else in the whole world.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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