Valentine's Day: It's my turn to celebrate
Chocolate hearts, diamond rings, fancy dinners and a to-go box.
Certainly, some people look forward to Valentine's Day. Even more certainly, the holiday is not for everyone.
We should hand Valentine's Day over to the singles, where it belongs. We should wrap it up in an elementary school Batman and Robin card with a box of Sweethearts and the tag-line, "Flying Frejoles, you are fun!"
As part of the new Single's Edition of Valentines Day, the day should be one of celebration. We should celebrate the extra money in our pockets and second helpings on our plates. The lack of drama in our lives and the wealth of freedom we have. We can leave our clothes on the floor and our bathroom doors open. It's a wonderful time in our lives.
We should also pay tribute to those who are in a relationship and broke.
If you don't want to hand the holiday over to singles completely, why not compromise? You can follow the elementary school rule and bring some for everyone. If you're going to give a box of chocolates to Billy from the billing department, give a box to Ann from accounting. It's only the right thing to do. It's right, and it's politically correct. Forget that it appears a little communist in nature.
Next time you go on a date, invite your single buddies along. Yes, it might become awkward with the added company as the couple presents their extravagant gifts to one another. But if you follow the elementary school rule, who comes out on top? It's the single who gets showered with gifts, thus compensating them for their disposition.
Even if my plan didn't include free stuff for me, I still recommend it. Valentine's Day is about love. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by friends on this most joyous occasion? There's plenty of time for pecking in the park later, after your single friends are tucked in for the night. Though they are sleeping alone in their beds, visions of candy hearts dance in their heads.
Maybe I am just bitter because every year at Valentine's Day, I am alone. I have a bad habit of breaking up with a significant other (making them insignificant) just before February so they don't buy me something expensive. I know the relationship isn't going anywhere, and so by the time the boxes of chocolates hit the shelves I am out. I saved many men their hard-earned cash in my day. This year might have been different if my barista crush said yes to a date. But alas, he is not a member of the Columbia Basin Singles Society, so I am once again by myself.
Do the right thing. Give the holiday to singles. Or at least wait until they scatter to celebrate alone.
Chrystal Doucette is the Columbia Basin Herald health and education reporter. Being the health reporter gives her a unique perspective on issues of the heart.