V-Day

This is meant for Day 12.

V-Day and by that I mean Valentine's Day.

In Spanish this holiday has kind of a tagline to it, something like St. Valentine's Day: The Day of Love and Friendship.

Which I like. I think it's a good day to show that special someone something special. Of course always do that anyways, but Valentine's Day is a great day to go that little extra mile.

And I think it shouldn't just be a couples holiday, why can't really good friends just let their friends know that they are appreciated. Why not? It's a day of love and if there's anything that I hope you've learned from any of these posts is that love is something huge and grand and everyone deserves it. Don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend? That's fine, I'm sure you have best friends you love and that love you back. I'm sure your mom, dad, grandparents would love a little card, or even a hug or kiss.

Don't let it be a bitter day. Embrace the love you have and spread it. Send love to others no matter who they are. There's no reason to be bitter over something you can easily fix just by loving.

So the history? Looong story short, that cheeky monkey [Saint] Valentine would secretly marry Christians in love even though it was forbidden. He got caught and was persecuted by the Roman Empire. Legend has it he cured the jailer's daughter during that time and left her a card that said "From Your Valentine",  and badabing!

Not a totally happy love story, but it had hope. People were still able to get married. And hope can be something very important when it comes to love, ain't that right all you hopeless romantics out there?

That's me included.

So I've never actually had an official girlfriend during Valentine's Day, there were always before or after. And I just try to be extra nice to people on that day. But my earliest memories of it were those days of elementary school parties with the super cool Valentine's Day cards for boys and girls. Boys would get Batman and Superman, girls would get puppies or bears.

And if I had a crush at the time, I'd give her the extra big one that said something super corny like "you're beary special" with a picture of a fat bear. As opposed to a small card that said "you rock!" to the peasants. You know that's how life works. And I loved the cupcakes and parties and goodies. It was all fun times. And I'd go home and being a nostalgic/border line hoarder I'd keep the cards for many months and I'd look through each and every single one of them. And I'd giggle and laugh. Eventually schools stopped having parties and I got goodies from female friends and I was always touched because I never thought they'd remember me, let alone save me a candy or a cookie just for me. I appreciated it and gave them huge hugs.

Life is what you make of it. Same as Valentine's Day, who says it has to be a bad day just because you're single? Have fun, smile, and love.