Schupp Company Blog

It’s Valentine’s Day. Buy Me Something.

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Valentines Day – otherwise known as the forced day of love. Whether you’re married, in a relationship or whatever your status on Facebook says, you’ve got expectations; and that is to feel special. But it’s time to face reality people. The one and only truth about Valentine’s Day is – your partner is only being romantic because marketers are forcing them.

What? You think they came up with this idea to make you feel special on their own? Of course they didn’t. Marketers did. Someone saw a golden opportunity to make money, and they took it and your money for a ride. The next truly viable holiday after Christmas is Easter (for all you Catholics out there). And we all know the economy can’t wait until April.

So, St. Valentines Day it is! Never mind that February 14^th was actually the day a Roman priest by the name St. Valentine was beaten with clubs and later beheaded!?! Nothing says love like a good ole-fashioned clubbing.

It’s not just the forced-romance part that eats at me. It’s the romance-in-a-box part that really makes me nauseous. Not only are you being told to shower your partner with love and affection, you can simply wander down to your local card shop and someone has written you something to say. They’ve arranged your flowers. They’ve wrapped your chocolate in pink cellophane and tied it with a bow. And if that’s not enough, they will even seduce you over to the perfume counter or into your local Victoria’s Secret by promising THIS will really make her happy.

Believe me. I have nothing against greeting card companies, chocolaters, florists, Victoria’s Secret or the perfume industry (although they could stand to tone it down a little bit). I know there are plenty of people who need a card written for them, can’t make their own chocolate and have to buy underwear. My problem is creating a holiday that lets these companies exploit their purpose and makes people feel obligated to do something nice.

My husband calls it the societal dilemma. Do you bite the bullet and spend $75 on flowers so your wife can get them at work and everyone in her little work universe can fawn over her and think you’re a stud? Or do you save the money for something more important that you might both enjoy and look like an insensitive arse?

I told him to save his $50 bucks, and write me a letter. HOWEVER, even though I don’t want him to do something romantic JUST because it’s a holiday, I really don’t want to be the girl who doesn’t get anything from her husband because he thinks man-made holidays are overrated.  I mean it is Valentine’s Day after all. You have to buy me something.

Tags: Gifts, Hallmark, Love, Married, Romance, Special, Valentine's Day, Victoria's Secret
Posted in Culture, Water Cooler | 1 Comment »