Friday, January 30, 2009

February 14th... St. Mercenary's Day

In one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies, Out of Africa, Berkeley Cole describes his friend, Denys Finch Hatton, this way: "He likes to give presents... But not at Christmas."

I can think of nothing more unromantic than the concept of Valentine's Day. Where is the romance in this yearly cue card... this reminder on the calendar to express affection for your chosen one by spending some money. It ranks right up there with choosing an engagement ring based on the "two month's salary rule."

Generalizing... Women love Valentine's Day. Men do not.

Generalizing... The bigger the piece of jewelry purchased, the more pedestrian the marriage.

Booty for booty is not romance.

Now I'm sure there are many mature, unselfish couples that have worked this out and have a wonderful time on this day... Every year. Great!

But I'll pass. Love shouldn't march to a drummer. I'd rather write my own script. And if the timing in my actions on the stage are clumsy and disappointing... And if my fervently spoken lines fail to fulfill my chosen one... Then I have chosen poorly.

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9 comments:

janice said...

I totally agree with you, Chris. Valentines Day (and Sweetest Day) are a big payday for Hallmark.

I'm a much more practical gal. I would rather have the $5.00 spent on a card and the $50.00 spent on roses and deposit that money in my savings account.

That's just the way I roll....

1/30/2009 8:46 AM
Bekah said...

I used to hate Valentines Day. I'd wear all black to work and send silent hate vibes to all the girls getting flowers and drown all my sorrows in a Blizzard and chick flick that evening. LOL

A couple of years ago I decided to use the (yes, overdone) love theme of the day to focus on my friends and remind them that I'm glad they're there. So I'll admit I do participate...I make cookies and candy and cards and stuff - but I think this whole spending half your paycheck on jewelry for your wife or girlfriend or fiancee or wal mart greeter or whoever is ridiculously overdone.

(having said that, if I ever do get married, you're welcome to tell my husband that a respectable display of roses would be welcomed.)

1/30/2009 9:50 AM
Christina said...

I agree in part.

I don't like the commercialism of Valentine's Day. I don't like the thought of receiving or giving a gift just because we are supposed to. I don't care about getting anything on V-Day, though it's nice if Andrew feels like doing something.

I do like the idea of taking a day to remember those that we love (whether it is spouses or children or parents or friends). I also like the idea of doing something to show your love for others, but it doesn't have to be an extravagant gift. Baking cookies for a friend, sending a card, sending flowers, having a nice meal together...these can all be nice ways to remember the love you have for each other.

I'm pretty sure that last V-Day, Andrew, Emily and I all went to dinner together and that was just fine with me. I'm easy to please.

1/30/2009 1:01 PM
janice said...

Nothing says "I love you" like the power of compound interest generated by the $55 saved by not participating in "it's February 14th I-must-buy-my-significant other-something day"!

1/30/2009 2:10 PM
Tsofah said...

I loved Valentine's Day parties when I was in elementary school. There were really neat valentines back then. Shapes and glitter and neat sayings. Decorating boxes to hold the cards in was a wonderful thing.

However, by the time members of my household were in school, the cards had become square generic "do not be politically incorrect so don't be original" cards. The boxes to hold them had become a feat to outdo even the most masterful designing engineer.

As far as the rest? A hug, an "I love you" and "let's celebrate the date in March, ok?" works just fine. Then we go to a movie as a family. After the movie is our once a year trek to White Castle to eat bellybomber burgers.

Now, THAT's celebrating Valentine's Day.

1/30/2009 4:23 PM
SkyePuppy said...

What day is that...?

Oh yeah. That's the day I buy myself some gigantic chocolate-dipped strawberries at the grocery store and share them with my daughter.

1/30/2009 10:09 PM
Grammy said...

I'm sorry...I'm having trouble getting past the part about Out of Africa being one of your favorite movies.

1/31/2009 4:32 PM
Malott said...

Grammy,

You're pretty judgemental for a woman who thinks "Sling Blade" was a great cinematic achievement.

In my defense: "Out of Africa" is a view of the continent in the World War I era, with terric cinematography... The manners among the English of the time are well represented, and the dialogue is at times very clever.

...Not that biscuits and mustard aren't also captivating subjects.

There is a group of movies - does not include every movie I liked on first viewing - but movies that I enjoy watching again and again... Maybe once per year. These include: "My Blue Heaven"... "Pride and Prejudice"... "Quigley Down Under"... "My Dinner with Andre"... "Casablanca"... "Now, Voyager"... "A Few Good Men"... "Rear Window"... "Teacher's Pet"... "It happened One Night"... and several others.

"Out of Africa" falls into this category.

2/01/2009 7:03 AM
Grammy said...

Okay, I get that. It was the Meryl Streep romance part of it that side-tracked me. I don't reckon we need to kill nobody about it. mmmhmmm.

2/01/2009 7:09 PM

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