To Friends and Friendship!

It's Valentine's Day.

Every year I try to reclaim the day for friends and friendship, as opposed to "make single people unhappy day" or "sell more greetings cards day".

I've made some amazing friends online. Some I've met in meatspace, some I've not met there yet, and some I will never meet face-to-face because they are sadly deceased.

If you're reading this, then you're a friend and I'm very glad to know you.

Interplanetary Be Who You Are Day

Kristin has renamed February 14th Interplanetary Be Who You Are Day.

Valentine's Day is great for greeting card manufacturers and couples who are in love but it can be a very painful time for people who aren't in a romantic relationship.

Kristen has a great list of people who might not be celebrating Valentine's Day, including

A person with a broken heart who is sobbing.

and

A person who is simply too tired to care about Valentine's Day because her twin toddlers are sticking macaroni up their noses AGAIN.

Here's to 14th February as Interplanetary Be Who You Are Day. Or maybe it could be Reach Out And Hug A Friend Day.
 

Valentine's Day Lament

This is me drawing on our car window in the snow a couple of weeks ago.


And this is what I drew:


I'm not sure if you can make it out but it's a heart with my Beloved's initial and mine. After nearly thirty years we still have fun together.

Today on the other hand is not great. I've stopped dripping nasally but my cough is disgusting and my gut hurts. Oh, and my back, and did I mention my shoulders? and... Sorry. That's enough whingeing.

Anyway, it doesn't look like Valentine's Day is going to be much of an event for us. I did exchange cards with my Beloved. Mine was home made simply because I haven't felt well enough to get out and buy one. Thank goodness for Word 2007 although my sons tell me you can do the same things with Open Office.

Being single on Valentine's Day isn't a lot of fun either. I remember when all my friends were getting Valentine's cards and I didn't. One year at University I got an anonymous picture calendar and I was never sure if it was a secret admirer or a friend having a laugh. I suspected the latter.

Is it in Finland where Valantine's Day is a celebration of friendship and not just romantic love? There's a lot to be said for that.

Happy Valentine's Day.