I'm a Valentine's grinch. We didn't celebrate Valentine's Day when I was growing up -- it was a custom I read about in old books — maybe Anne of Green Gables — I think it mentioned Valentines, didn't it? Nobody I knew gave or received Valentines. It's a relatively recent thing here in Australia, and getting bigger every year, and we grinchly types see it as something wished on us by US TV shows and cynical commercial forces who try to guilt people into spending money...
I don't like obligatory demonstrations of love. I think they should come naturally, spontaneously and unexpectedly, and not according to the calendar. I subscribe to the "Love Actually" theory of love — that it's everywhere at all times, in different forms, and I'll celebrate it whenever I come across it.
Red roses are beautiful, but the beautiful red roses that proliferate on Valentine's Day usually have no scent, and to me, that's symbolic. A rose without scent is worse than no rose at all. Give me a blowsy, tattered, bug-nibbled rose that smells glorious instead of a pristine, tightly furled perfect scentless rose any day. One is real, the other is all for show.
That said, if you're feeling truly romantic this Valentine's day — go for it. Just don't do the romantic thing because you feel it's expected of you. Genuine or nothing.
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My husband and I have been married for 46 years. We love to make each other a “homemade” card for Valentine’s Day. It might be sweet or risque or funny. It means more to us than a “store-bought” card any day.
ReplyDeleteWishing you pink and red roses and lots of chocolates if for no other reason than who wouldn’t like to receive those!
Loved “The Autumn Bride” and cannot wait to get and read more of your novels, Anne! Congratulations on all of your successes.
Connie, that's wonderful. I love your genuine, heartfelt Valentine's expression — love your home-made card and personal celebration. If everyone did that, I wouldn't be a grinch. :)
DeleteAnd thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed my Autumn Bride. Have a wonderful day.
I agree Anne re the roses (I have a heritage red in our front yard & not a fan of non-scented ones). We both agree with the love is everyday not just one year's worth on one day deal.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicky -- I don't see the point of roses unless they're scented. Two of my friends -- both romance writers -- grow the most gorgeous scented roses.
DeleteBeing single makes this holiday interesting. Everyone asks what you're doing for your sweetheart. Some try to create a sweetheart so everyone has one. I prefer to be honest with myself. I'm single. This isn't what I hoped for in my life, but life happens. It's far better than what I thought I wanted years ago. Your honest perspective of it being a day created for guilt, which as nothing to do with love, struck a chord for me. I do have plans for the day, for me, and for one of my characters. Now that's fun. :-)
ReplyDeleteJudy, I'm going to have a swooningly romantic Valentine's evening -- I'm giving a talk on writing at my local library. LOL
DeleteWe've never celebrated Valentine's day either though tonight, we went to dinner but, and this is a big but, it had nothing to do with Valentine's day as much as I'm running on back to back flu then Norovirus. I've been sick for weeks and finally put my foot down this week and said I wasn't cooking at least one day this week, we were going out. So the DH picked today.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's a commercial holiday as far as the cards and all the other things.
And I grow roses, but they're not worthy of my garden if they have no scent. Try the David Austin. His antique roses are to die for!
Theo, I'm so sorry to hear you've been sick. What rotten luck to get one awful thing after another. I hope you're on the mend now.
DeleteI love David Austin roses. The scent is usually superb.