My Past Valentines

Since Valentines Day is looming around the corner, I was thinking of dedicating the entire’s week’s posts on topics related to it. February 14, the day women will be hoping for a nice romantic evening with their respective beaus, and the day where every attached man will be dreading the large hole which would burning in his pocket and wallet. And the day where some single/non-attached men/women would be pining to be either receiving a Valentines Day gesture from someone special or giving a Valentines Day gesture to someone special.

Personally, I had never had a “proper” Valentines Day celebration. 2 reasons are probably the undermining cause of it.

1. I wasn’t attached with someone at that moment, or I simply wasn’t looking forward to being with anyone at that moment
2. I regard Valentines Day as a devilish marketing ploy to pry our hard-earned cash from our hands.

Let’s see now. During my school days, I was nothing more that a big nerd without the glasses. All-boys school. All I did was score good grades. Totally useless in any sports. And I certainly wasn’t active in any after-school activities. I was practically an invisible kid at school, and with the help of more “happenning” students at that time, I was sidelined and not many people knew me. Not that I minded all that. All those Valentines Day dedication-message sending activities that were organized by the Interact Club wasn’t of much use to me, since I didn’t know any girls at all from any neighbouring school.

University days (or was it University DAZE?) began in April 2002. HONESTLY, this was the first time in my life I’ve ever interacted with females. Kinda kooky, huh? Hehehe.. Valentines Day in 2003 didn’t have much to offer as well, as I was a crazy kid who had crushes all around and I was just another wide-eyed freak.

I had my first girlfriend back in 2004, and sadly we broke up before the next Valentines Day came. But during the time it took me to woo her off her feet (10 fucking months; would you fucking believe it that I was after the same girl for 10 months???!!!), I used to do stuff like it was Valentines Day forever. And no, I didn’t get her flowers everyday, although when I did, it was hand-plucked (read: stolen from private gardens from houses all over the housing project) and arranged by yours truly, not store-bought. So, during the 2005 Valentines Day, I was busy drinking with other bachelors celebrating “bachelorhood”.

2006 wasn’t much of a difference. I didn’t have anyone special at that moment, nor was I chasing a girl to ask her out. To me, the 2006 Valentines Day was just another Tuesday, where florists were making a handsome profit. Three of my housemates were attached at that moment, and they were out having candlelight dinners. By now, the maturity in me had improved, and I was smart enough to know that a Valentines Day dinner doesn’t have to mean that something special is going on. I brought a friend to a simple dinner and later we hung out together. It was kinda romantic too, without the “I Love You” cliche and relationship ties.

2007 Valentines Day wasn’t much of a great thing either. Let’s see now. Fresh graduate. Jobless. Empty wallet. Hmmm. Seemed like a perfectly good reason to stay at home and sulk. Oh well, at least I didn’t sulk. Though I did go to bed early.

So this year, 2008, seems like it’s gonna be just another regular Valentines Day. No plans yet. And I doubt that I’d be having one soon. If I was back in my uni, I’d be ready to ask around some friends to join me for a dinner and perhaps a movie. Or maybe have a gathering with all the single guys.

Valentines Day actually makes you wonder. A lot. Especially when you are single. And when the whole society worships the day and carefully observes the many rituals associated with it. I am not a person who complies with the many guidelines of the society. But still, there tends to be the loner’s thoughts, where you inadvertently yearn for a companion of the opposite sex. I have had many such episodes, yet they pass off as merely spur-of-the-moment inclinations. I don’t pause too long to think about such yearning the next day. But there are times when such yearnings popup in my mind, and Valentines Day is one example.

Care to share your Valentines Day’s experiences? And anyone wanna go for a date? Application open to females only.