Call me a pessimist/killjoy but I’ve never been one to
partake in the money making gimmick that is Valentine’s Day. Retailers promote
the “day of love” in order to boost profits, and one can almost picture the MD
of Cardies rubbing his hands together in delight. An example: 12 red roses
normally sell for less than R200 but because it’s Valentine’s Day the price
doubles to R400!
R400 for flowers (that although pretty) will wilt and die in
a few days. Sure – prove your undying love for your partner with some botanicals
that won’t make it past Sunday. Flowers aside, teddy bears; chocolates; and
those cheesy “I heart you” mugs are all marked up 200%. Restaurants go the
extra mile by offering a three course meal with the clichéd violinist, to
serenade their patrons. Oh, and to justify the price they’ll even throw in some
chocolates. How generous.
Then there are the couples that get engaged on Valentine’s
Day. To each their own, but honestly how many other people (in the same
restaurant) are going to be fishing rings out of their champagne glasses? Be
original!
My fundamental issue with Valentine’s Day is why not show
your love/appreciation for your partner every day of the year? Why are we
limited to one day? The best gifts or dinners are the unexpected ones. Prices
are cheaper and restaurants are emptier.
What am I doing for Valentines? William and I are going to
watch a movie and we’ll probably have a home cooked dinner. There’s no one else
I’d rather spend my evening with, partaking in one of our favorite things to
do.
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