the holiday that wasn't

I know that there are a lot of people that dislike Valentine's Day. I'm not one of those people. In fact, I am entirely ambivalent about the day itself. I don't expect gifts, I don't expect flowers, I don't even expect a card anymore than I would on any other non-holiday day. Certainly if someone wants to surprise me I would be thrilled. Otherwise I just really couldn't care less.

This is not to say that I couldn't care less about love, intimacy, passion, or friendship. On the contrary, these are things I care deeply about. I think too many people wait until Valentine's Day to express their love, when an expression of affection is appropriate any day of the year. It is sad to think that there are people out there who never hear the words of love or friendship. Even sadder to think that perhaps the only day they hear them is February 14 when those expressions are more of an obligation than a true feeling.

And just a small quibble -- the emotion of love is not found in the heart, it's in the brain. So, if you must give Valentine's cards, let's at least try to make them anatomically correct.