an amend to the previous post

So last post I commented on how much I hate Valentine's Day.

While this is true, apparently I need to make clear just what I mean by this statement, so that someone (cough, cough) understands what I meant in my previous post.

My adverse feelings toward Valentine's Day started early in my junior high school years. While every other day was normal, it was on one day in February that everyone abruptly turned into sentimental freaks. Suddenly all the girls, and even some of the guys, were carrying around ugly teddy bears holding red hearts that had ridiculous sayings such as, "Will you be mine" or "I'm yours" or even (gasp) "I love you".

Maybe I was jealous, maybe I was jaded...I don't know. I'd like to think that I wasn't, because once I got one of those hideous bears. BUT, it was from a guy that also gave those same bears out to four other girls that he was friends with.

Anyway, that's not the point. The point is, I hated that all of this fake "love" was going around. For heavens sake! We were in middle school! How the heck do you know that you love someone? You don't! So the only reason that you are giving out these hideous balloons and teddies is either because you feel like you have to, or because you want to one-up someone else. Or, even worse, because you think that you actually do love that skinny, freckled girl with braces in your 3rd period english class. Guess what, you don't. You'll dump her to "go out" with another girl in a week. What a waste of money on a stupid bear and chocolates, huh?

So, I have carried that same attitude with me my whole life. In high school it just got worse, and apparently my detestation for Valentine's Day did as well.

There was, however, one saving grace for this ill-fated holiday. And that grace was my father.

He has always been very sweet about Valentine's Day; sweet enough to almost make me grateful for the blasted day. On Valentine's Day he has traditionally given each of the girls very sweet cards, and has cooked each of our favorite dishes. This meant that Valentine's Day was usually full of love and deliciousness in the form of steak, shrimp, alfredo, macaroni and cheese, or any number of other tasty dishes.

So, in the end, I don't actually detest Valentine's Day as much as I would like to boast. I actually even kind of like the day. I especially like it when I realize that I have the love of two of the greatest guys in the whole world.

"Life just wouldn't be the same without you two (referring to Jeff and me) in it. I am happy to have you home where you belong."

-Love, Dad

From my Valentine's Day card this year. I am very, very, very grateful for it. :)