Valentine's day myths debunked

Valentine's day is tomorrow.  This week several of my favorite shows (The Middle, Modern Family, Blackish, etc) aired their Valentine's day episodes which I enjoyed.

While Valentine's day is supposed to be the holiday celebrating love, I'm disturbed by the increasing amount of people who hate it.  When I hear the reasons why some people hate this holiday it sounds like a bunch of sour grapes to me.

So that is why I've decided to debunk several Valentine's day myths for you.  You're welcome.

Myth:  Valentine's day reminds single people that they are alone.
Reality:  Christmas reminds Jews, Atheists, and Jehovah's Witnesses that they aren't getting any gifts that day.  Big deal!  Its not their holiday!  Its 1 day out of 365 so don't be a hater.  You wouldn't despise someone with a cupcake because you're on a diet!

Myth:  You can't get a restaurant reservation.
Reality:  You can if you don't wait until the last minute.  Put it on your calendar on Jan 14th to make a dinner reservation for Valentine's day.  A month ahead you'll have your choice of where to dine.

Myth:  If you do get a reservation, the restaurant will be crowded and over-priced.
Reality:  Again, if you aren't Last Minute Larry you can make a reservation for a place with modest prices.  Or, you can just enjoy spending the evening with your loved one and not worry about the cost.  Or, you can cook a lovely and romantic dinner for your sweetie at home and avoid the restaurants entirely.

Myth:  I'll have to buy expensive roses and chocolates.
Reality:  No you don't.  While those things are common on Valentine's day, there's no law that says you can't get an arrangement of beautiful cut flowers instead of roses, or your sweetie's favorite candy bar instead of a box of chocolates.  Be creative! 

Myth:  I'll have to get a stupid, mushy card that's not my style.
Reality:  What could be more romantic than making your own Valentine's card?  Pick up some inexpensive supplies at the dollar store and make your own card - romantic or funny - that IS your style.  It can say whatever you want it to say!

Myth:  There's so much pressure to find a nice gift.
Reality:   While there is a limit to how many stuffed animals or pieces of jewelry one should give, in reality Valentine's day gifts are no different that birthday or Christmas gifts.  Don't wait until the last minutes.  Use your imagination and take some time to think of what you're sweetie may have hinted recently.  Or, think of the his/her hobbies and get something related to one of them.  It doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful.

Myth:  If you're single there's nothing for you to do on Valentine's day.
Reality:  Wrong!  Plan to get together with some of your single friends, dress up nice and cute and go to happy hour at your favorite bar/pub.  It will be less crowded than usual since the couples won't be there.  Plus, you may meet someone else single there.  Or, invite a few friends over, order Chinese delivery, and watch a movie or a scripted series marathon.

In a perfect world everyone would have a special someone, would tell them often that they love them, and would bring them gifts and cards and flowers for no reason.  But most of us do not live in such a perfect world so Valentine's day is the day we are reminded to express our feelings.  This is not a bad thing!

The look of love

"The look of love is in your eyes..."

Yesterday I went into one of my favorite deli restaurants for a late lunch.  It was about 3pm so the place wasn't very busy.

I chose a table near the wall and looked across the small dining area toward the window.  I noticed an attractive, sexy young man eating a salad at a table in front of the window.  So each time I looked out the window I saw the attractive young man.

The waiter came to my table and I noticed that he, too, was an attractive young man.  I ordered and then watched the waiter visit the other tables asking the patrons if they needed anything.  The attractive man at the window table followed the waiter with his eyes, then noticed me looking at him.  I pretended to be looking out the window.

The waiter refilled drinks, brought extra napkins, and dropped of checks at some of the tables.  All the while the guy at the window seat watched the waiter go from table to table.  Then he stopped at the window table and the attractive man seated there smiled at him and they spoke briefly about something I couldn't hear. 

I began to think "I wonder if the guy at the window table is the waiter's boyfriend?"  Neither had any give-away signs of being gay, but the look in the one guy's eyes made me wonder if they were a couple.

The waiter brought my Cuban sandwich, then visited all of his tables again including the window table.  Again the guy seated there smiled genuinely at the waiter. 

As I was about 1/2 way through my sandwich, I noticed the guy at the window seat was getting up to leave.  He walked over to where the waiter was entering an order into a computer touch screen.  The patron said something to the waiter, then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and patted his waste.

The look of love was in his eyes.