Valentines Day (a little early)

Valentines day is one of my favorite holidays.  I like hearts, I like candy, and I never felt a ton of extra pressure to be in a relationship (mostly because I never really was at valentines day, until I dated Dan, and then we were already dating; so I fretted over not being in a relationship most of the time, not just at valentines day).

When I was in elementary school, we would make "mailboxes" and give people valentines.  I always agonized over the cards I would give the boys, because I didn't want them (or anyone else) to get the idea that I liked any of them.  I tried to give them the most un-mushy, generic cards, but there always seemed to be one more boy than un-mushy card.  So then one boy would end up with "you're great" or "I like you" instead of "happy valentines day."  Which would get noticed, and then I would be embarrassed.

So, yeah, I spent a large part of elementary school trying to avoid being embarrassed.

Despite the perpetual dilemma of valentines day cards, valentines day in elementary school was pretty awesome.  We got candy, and we got to have a class party.  What more do you want when you are 8?

Somewhere between elementary school and college, I accepted the notion that you needed someone special to celebrate valentines day with.  When I was 16 or 17, the girls at church decided to wear black the day after valentines day, as a protest against the boys (who were not asking us out) in the world.  Of course, this was the same time at which the guys (ages 16-18) would collectively buy each of the girls (of the same age) roses for valentines day.  It's hard to hate a holiday when it's just about the only time the guys your age acknowledge you.

My freshman year in college, my roommate gave me a valentines.  Just like the kind I used to get back in elementary school.  I wasn't expecting it, but the idea that you could celebrate valentines, with friends, stuck.  So valentines day celebrations came back into my life, and at some point between when I was a freshman at 18, and when I left college (the second time) at 24, valentines day became my favorite holiday.

The next valentines day, Dan and I were dating, and I put a lot of effort into it.  Dan had told me about a tradition in Japan, where girls give chocolates to the guy they like.  I bought a candy mold, and melting chocolates, and made Dan some heart shaped chocolates.  I agonized over the card I got him; we had only been dating for a couple months, and I didn't want to be too mushy, but I wanted to let him know how I felt.  I also made a chocolate hazelnut cake, baked in a heart shaped cake pan.  I went all out.

Dan, at some point, got the idea that I didn't like surprises and that I didn't really want to do anything for valentines day.  He got me some flowers the day before valentines day, and maintains to this day that they were not actually for valentines day.

This year is our fifth valentines day together.  Dan surprised me with flowers and a card earlier this week.  And today we went out for a movie and lunch, as my treat for him.  Along with the flowers, he also bought some strawberries, and reminded me we have whipping cream in the fridge.  I am plotting dessert.  Maybe caramel angel food cake?