Morts Musings

So, with the Christmas craziness over, and fast becoming a feint, alcohol blurred, memory, most of us are struggling with the “dog days” of January, & looking forward to a break from silly spending while the finances recover.
Sadly, life just doesn’t seem to work like that, even for those who don’t have to cope with the impending reality of the end of January tax deadline, the marketing men have no intention of letting us, or our bank balances, rest.
You thought you had ’til at least easter before the next celebration of commericalism? Oh no, that’s still several months away, which wouldn’t do at all, you have to spend your money on something between now and then, don’t you now?

The up and coming event I’m talking about is, of course, St Valentine’s Day. You could say that I’m just an embittered single, and maybe I am, but I can honestly say that, even from within relationships, Valentine’s has always been one of those “holidays” which I think is a little messed up, and which seems to be more about retailers trying to cash in, than about any notions of enduring love, or romance.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m quite a romantic, sentimental soul, under all my cynicism & curmudgeonly complaining, but I fail to see why I need to have a day set aside (be it by society, religion, or the power of marketing) to make a special effort for my beloved.
I’m all for romantic gestures, and showing my other half that I care, but I’m quite capable of doing so at any time of the year, & I rather resent the contrived, non-spontaneous nature of what Valentines day has been warped into by commercialism.
I mean, why limit such shows of affection to one, particular, day a year? Call me old school, but I don’t need a special day to buy posh chocolates or flowers for my girlfriend, & there’s not much better than taking a loved one out for a romantic dinner; going through the ritual of enthusiastically approving of all the outfits and dresses which she decides to try on beforehand, and, in the process, trying to gauge whether she’s wearing any of her “special” lingerie under the outfit. Ahem, flippant thoughts of after-dinner events aside, a romantic meal with one’s significant other is hard to beat, and absolutely shouldn’t be a once a year event, likewise with gifts, Valentines flowers are all very nice, but what about the other 364 days of the year?

I wouldn’t mind it if it was something which hadn’t become compulsory, but surely any holiday about love which actually causes relationship problems, if one doesn’t comply fully with what society expects (& mostly this seems to equate to spending money), has become twisted to the point of losing its meaning. So, if you’re attached you pretty much have to spend out, at what’s a fairly tight time of the year for most people, or else risk the righteous wrath of one’s other half.
On the flip side the holiday also serves to remind singles that they’re single and lonely, and, damn it, can you get any of your friends to go out for a few consoling beers? well, not if they’re attached, obviously!

So there you have it, Valentine’s is a rubbish holiday! If you’re single it’s an uncomfortable reminder of loneliness, while if you’re attached, you’ll find expectations foisted upon you, and you’ll be a bad, bad person if you don’t spend, spend, spend for that special day.
Overall the only winners seem to the negligent types, who are seemingly quite content to get all the year’s romance over and done with in one day, and the vendors of Valentine’s related gifts.