Valentine's Grinch?

To reduce Valentine’s Day to the exploitative genius of a villainous (non-Union) Hallmark executive is –frankly- unfair. In truth, are not all holidays the reaping of (damnable?) profit for publically traded companies? Would you refuse debasing yourself in the acknowledgement of Veteran’s Day by virtue of greeting card profiteering at the hands of unsuspecting servicemen? It is just ludicrous to be a Valentine’s naysayer. If you abhor the holiday, don’t send flowers; just don’t be the Valentine’s Grinch.

Here’s why: My idealistic and -not yet ruined by cynicism- daughter finds this sanctioned day of sentimentality improbably wonderful. With painstaking precision, she has cut cookies shaped as hearts. With an affectionate fervor, she has colored countless Princess valentines. With loving loyalty, she has pledged herself on Princess smothered stickered-paper as my forever friend.

Thus, Valentine’s morning, Eowyn was awakened with a heart-shaped donut, strawberry milk, and presents for our Princess valentine. Before you become physically ill from the recounting of our sanctimonious suburban celebration, I’ll stop here. Suffice to say, as we conveyed to Eowyn, we only love her because He first loved us. I guess you might say- that’s reason enough not to be a Valentine's hater.