thoughts on valentine's day

For the first time in my life, I actually have a boyfriend on Valentine's Day. And you know what? It doesn't even matter to me any more. I guess when you don't have a signifant other, it seems more like a big deal because it reminds you that you don't have a significant other. Although we will be celebrating our anniversary in Big Bear the weekend after Valentine's - Rocky asked me out the week after last year's Valentine's Day (which we spent at Toastmaster's Club since it coincided with our meeting night). A few weeks ago I asked Rocky about his thoughts on Valentine's Day and if he's used to doing something, giving gifts or some such. The question came up because I was walking through Wal-Mart (this was the beginning of January), and they already had an aisle full of red and pink hearts. I was rather turned off by this, and was relieved when Rocky said he doesn't like it either because it's been so commercialized. The Valentine's Day overkill in stores give me kind of a gross vibe, like a strategic apology or something, that strips a thing of all meaning. I wondered for a bit why the same kind of commercialism doesn't kill the spirit of Christmas, but I guess Christmas has enough meaning in itself to hold up that kind of weight.