Good thing, 'cause love is in the air. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest cheerleader for Valentine's Day - unlike St. Patrick's Day when the Irish music is piping all around me nonstop. With V Day, the trick seems to be not to take it too seriously and to know that the first person you have to remember to love today or any day is yourself.
Still, if asked (you're asking, right?) I'd have to say my favorite V Day would have to be in 1991 when I decided to screw the whole "couples only" mind-set for V Day. Being date-less didn't mean I had to hide in my dorm room and listen to Indigo Girls on endless repeat. Really.
Instead, I took matters into my own hands (no, not like that). Since the college's theatre production that year was a musical, Camelot, and, for the first time being performed off campus at the Gloucester Stage Company, I decided to dress up and take myself to the musical for Valentine's Day, borrowing a friend's car and buying my own dang ticket. No, it wasn't pathetic and sad but sort of social - it was empowering. After I told a friend about my plans, he insisted on taking me to a florist and buying me a red rose wrist corsage. Flowers on V Day. Sigh.
Ya know what? I had a blast. I stood tall when asked who I was with and replied "myself" (I had to stand tall; I was wearing four-inch heels). I endured pitying glances and too hearty "oh that's great!" and "well, good for you!" responses. I didn't care. The play was great, the night was marvelous, and when I got back to the dorm room, another guy friend had left me a beautiful peach rose on my dresser. My 18-year-old heart swooned, I'm not ashamed to say. I grinned for days.
Sidebar: Camelot was randomly on TCM channel this afternoon. I have mad love for Richard Harris (The Lion in Winter remains an all time favorite movie of mine) and clearly a soft spot for Camelot itself. Not for the first time, I wound up spitting unkind epitaphs at Guinevere. I mean, come on woman! You're married to a great king. Keep your flippin' legs shut already. Lancelot will not live up to his name, I promise. And then after wrecking a kingdom and breaking your husband's heart, you go to a nunnery? Yeesh. Even Vanessa Redgrave can't fix that one.)
Back in 1991, I think what makes that particular Valentine's Day so special to me was that I made a choice. A choice not to allowed the strictures of society, the ones that say if you're not one of two, you can't enjoy Valentine's Day, to keep me from doing just that. Years later, I would take that philosophy with me to Ireland and Italy, having adventures in some of the most beautiful places in the world without waiting till I had someone to go with me. Or, to put it into Silverado parlance: "Life is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations."
Romance is great. It's amazing. I am a romance writer after all and I think, done right, it can melt hearts and rejuvenate the way someone feels about herself. But ultimately, Valentine's Day is about love, not only romance. Check out a greeting card wall if you doubt it. Or better yet, the streets of New York.
Love that comes in all kinds of guises.
Speaking of guises, no one knows the many faces of love quite like Harlequin books. For decades they've been the front line of romance novels. Love 'em or scorn them (and you better not let me hear you do that!), everyone knows the name. And I love the fact that vintage Harlequin covers have become available as office products. Nothing like a piece of Gothic romance art to add zest to your notebook cover.
To celebrate Valentine's Day and all the myriad ways we love, I'm giving away three 2011 Harlequin vintage covers calendar. Hey look! A picture! (Taken with my phone, so images may not truly reflect the awesome sauce that is this calendar).
Want one?
Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite or funniest or most poignant or even your worst Valentine's Day. Let me know the best ways you've shone/been shone love. I'll pick a random winner on Thursday.I wish for all of you a day, a week, a year full of love in all its versions.
Color me a hopeful romantic. I do believe that love can conquer all, which is I guess why I write romances. Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteMy best Valentine memory might not seem special to anyone, but it was to me. It was 2003, and I was seven months pregnant with my first son. After putting in a whole day in at work and a long drive in rush hour traffic I just wanted to go in my room and nap. However, when I walked into my bedroom and saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It made me appreciate my husband so much that day because Valentine's was the last thing on my mind. He always makes me special and makes it seem like Valentine's day throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteMy best Valentine memory might not seem special to anyone, but it was to me. It was 2003, and I was seven months pregnant with my first son. After putting in a whole day in at work and a long drive in rush hour traffic I just wanted to go in my room and nap. However, when I walked into my bedroom and saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It made me appreciate my husband so much that day because Valentine's was the last thing on my mind. He always makes me special and makes it seem like Valentine's day throughout the year.
ReplyDelete@Caridad Thanks for leaving a comment, babe!
ReplyDelete@Rants and Raves What a lovely husband you have! Sometimes one simple gesture can mean so very much. Enjoy your Valentine today!
You know, I can't think of a single one that stands out in the past. The last few years have been with my husband, and while I get flowers and/or chocolate (better not, this year...my diet doesn't allow it), it's just another day for us. I'm blessed to have a husband that is more likely to do Valentine-y stuff any random day of the year, so I don't feel the need to do anything special on a day society has dictated as "romantic."
ReplyDeleteI do think our society puts too much pressure on single people. Believe me, there are times when I envy those singles. *grin*
Hi Noelle! Thanks for the visit. I agree; Valentine-y stuff (as you so eloquently put it) on an ordinary day seems to be even more special somehow. Maybe because it shows your husband/significant other making an even bigger step to show his love/appreciation for you because there weren't thousands of adverts and greeting cards and V day swag to remind him to do it.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day today with your everyday Valentine!
Ahh...we were very young, newly married and hopelessly in love. {And i do mean hopeless} cringeworthy stuff. On a first Valentine's Day together, he woke me just before midnight. Told me to ask no questions, we drove three hours to a beach, he lay a blanket on the sand, produced champagne and crystal glasses and we sat and watched the sunrise...sigh, in the pouring rain.
ReplyDeleteNo Valentine's Day since then has made me smile quite as much.
Ahh...we were very young, newly married and hopelessly in love. {And i do mean hopeless} cringeworthy stuff. On a first Valentine's Day together, he woke me just before midnight. Told me to ask no questions, we drove three hours to a beach, he lay a blanket on the sand, produced champagne and crystal glasses and we sat and watched the sunrise...sigh, in the pouring rain.
ReplyDeleteNo Valentine's Day since then has made me smile quite as much.
Oh, wow, Snoooz, I just got a chill from that story! What a fantastically romantic memory! He gets big props for that. Hope you have another wonderful day with your lovie today.
ReplyDelete