Will you be my Valentine? No, not you...yeah, you.

My friends at Wikipedia tell me that Valentine's Day was established in 496 AD. --that's 1,514 years ago for you math wizards out there. Long time. So far, I'm 2 for 1,513 as far as having someone to share it with goes. And still, unlike most perpetually single folks out there, I really like Valentine's Day. The overall mood and ambiance it evokes are just really cool to me.

True, one shouldn't need a particular day to show their love. But who's it really hurting? I've never understood why more people don't embrace the fun of the occasion.

"Single Awareness?" Not even a little bit...

Ghost of Valentine's Past...
- 1999: First time I ever gave a flower to a girl. As an 8th grader, I bought one long-stemmed red rose (with my own money) and placed it in the locker of a skinny redhead. *Shivers at the thought* Live and learn.
- 2003: As a Senior in High School, I bought my first ever girlfriend [Cassandra] a dozen red roses, a stuffed animal, and who knows what else? I got a tin full of almond candies. Yuck. Oh well, live and learn...
- 2007: Girlfriend #2 [Janon]. I seem to recall the gift-giving on both ends was more sufficient this time around, but the relationship itself? You guessed it, live and learn...
- 2009: Girlfriend #3 [Stephanie] broke up with me the day before...needless to say, she never got her gifts. Some wound up in the grateful hands of others, some I kept for myself...some were burned in the bottom of a barrel. I may still be young-ish, but you'd think I'd have learned my lessons in love by now, right?

Ghost of Valentine's Present...
- 2010: No legitimate Valentine's prospects to speak of.

I did go see Dear John (still pretty angry about the movie itself) in the theater with my friend Katie this past weekend. I suppose that could be construed as a friend date of sorts, but...that's about the extent of it.

Hold-ups:
Girls I like usually have either an unfortunate-looking, unworthy boyfriend (one in particular comes to mind), making the girl entirely unapproachable...or simply have no interest in me whatsoever.

Girls who like me usually have: lots of baggage and/or an affinity for drama. No, thanks.

Ghosts of Valentine's Future...
- Who knows? All I know is that this is a fun holiday. Part of me can't wait to share it with someone...but part of me will wait patiently, because when it's meant to be, my time will come. *eats fortune cookie, throws away wrapper*

Final notes:

Married, engaged or just generically-attached friends: Enjoy yourselves this Valentine's Day. Find a babysitter, go out to dinner and a movie, or do something romantic. Might as well. :)

Single friends who disagree with me, and hate Valentine's Day: Shut up. Open up your heart and stop being such a bitter, jealous fun-hater.

Single friends who are also OK with Valentine's Day: High 5!

Single friends who also happen to be foxy ladies: Well hello there. Here's a video clip just for you...



Do the right thing,
Derrick