What Valentine’s Day Means to Me: 10 Things
Valentine’s Day – The day we are expected to send pictures of red naked winged-babies to our loved ones. A holiday marked with wine and candles and all that jazz. The day commemorating the horrible executions of several early Christian martyrs named St Valentine, which, some years, may seem all too symbolic.
But we all know that stuff. Here’s ten personal things that Valentine’s Day means to me:
10. Cherry red tinsel. Everywhere. And the burned out retinas that accompany said tinsel.
9. Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting – the greatest thing to come out of this holiday, and possibly any holiday? Perhaps.
8. The time that someone pointed out to me that the classic heart-shaped valentine has a similar shape as the labia majora, upside down, arguing that that is why it is shaped that way. I’ve never seen Valentine’s Day decorations the same way since.
7. Hot cocoa. I don’t drink wine, so this is my drink of choice. Add a little whipped cream, and it’s about as romantic as it comes.
6. Sappy movies. I admit it, ‘tis the season for romcom marathons, and I eat it up. I have a list
on my blog of the thirteen best romantic movies for the holiday, and it is my preferred way of celebrating. In my pajamas. The way all good holidays are meant to be enjoyed.
5. Filling out thirty little cards that come in a box from the drugstore and feature the latest licensed fad characters for my sons’ preschool class. Not only is this both slightly annoying and rather adorable, this is also a great way to find names for new novel characters, since every year I get thirty new names I hadn’t thought of before. Well, this year it’s twenty-eight, since there’s two Jordans and two Lukes.
4. The two-week warning mark before my son’s birthday, and time to finish the shopping and decoration plans. Okay, so not romantic at all, but as a mom, you learn these memory queues to avoid insanity.
3. Red bowls full of candy. I’m a teacher, so this time every year finds me scooping up armfuls of candy to bring to class. Valentine’s Day always reminds me of buying $50 worth of junk in one go, and avoiding eye contact with the cashier as she rings it all in.
2. The constant struggle to find X-Free store-bought treats for the Tot’s preschool class Valentine’s Day party, where X stands for peanuts, gluten, sugar, animal biproducts and gelatin, Red # 40, artificial sweeteners, lactose and soy. Oh, and individually wrapped, as well. And holiday-themed, if I can manage it. Oy.
1. Romance novels! You knew I had to say it, and here it is. Now, on such an important day, I don’t always leave it up to chance by reading just anything. This is the day every year that I dig out one of my treasured paperbacks from my favourite writer, LaVyrle Spencer. This year, it will be The Endearment, I think. Nothing brings home the message of romance like a beloved book and a timeless story of lovers. It makes me proud of what I do.
Happy Valentine’s Day, with many books and kisses included, to each and every one of you!
What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
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V-Day, an erotic romantic-comedy for Valentine’s Day
It all started with a serenade…
A family like Daniel’s and the solitary pursuit of musical excellence is enough to make a young man crazy. No wonder all Daniel Vouks dreams of is getting away. He knows his violin will take him places in life, but the only place he really wants to be is next door. He’s been in love with his neighbor since he was fourteen, but can he ever make her see him as more than just a lovesick kid?
V-Day is the story of a Valentine’s Day weekend Daniel fears he may regret, but will never, ever forget.
Excerpt:
Daniel retreated to the music room, thankful he didn’t have a class or a practice scheduled on campus today. He didn’t even have to give any lessons until next week. The weather really didn’t look all that welcoming and he was grateful he could huddle inside as his family bustled off to their various destinations. After school, his parents would be off for the weekend, dropping his sister and her flotilla of luggage off at Kayley’s so the girls could get ready to go to the dance together, which meant leaving Daniel officially on his own until at least Sunday afternoon. Glorious.
Allowing the noise of their departures to roll off him as he sat absently at the piano, he plucked out a few strains and watched the sun glint off the fresh snow in the backyard. It was really beautiful when you could view it from a cozy place.
Blah! Another Valentine’s Day. His nineteenth one as a single guy. And, he thought ruefully, his nineteenth year as a confirmed virgin.
Jesus, even his baby sister had more going on than he did. Selby, his girlfriend in tenth grade, had been about as close to any action as he’d ever gotten. Her pathological fear of pregnancy made it absolutely essential that he keep his pants on at all times. Other than that, any girl he’d ever liked had tossed him into the “friend” basket and never bothered to reassess him.
Kelly, his best friend, did that. After Daniel followed the cute redheaded soprano around for weeks like a puppy, she finally took pity on him and explained he was simply too nice to attract her. After that, they formed an easy relationship through which both had a pal, and a no-fuss “emergency date” when necessary.
Flipping open his phone, he hit Kelly’s number.
“This better be good,” she grumbled after the fifth ring.
“Hey early riser,” he chuckled.
“Well, if I had my mom bringing me my morning coffee in bed…”
“Okay, truce,” Daniel winced. “And my mom doesn’t let me drink coffee.”
“Why not? Afraid it’ll stunt your growth, stretch?” Kelly asked with a crystal clear laugh despite having just woken up.
“Something like that,” he said, flecking a flower petal off the top of the piano. “Listen…You’re probably…I dunno…busy tonight, right?”
“Are you trying again, Danny?” she groaned.
“Well, no. I just thought if you weren’t, maybe we could do something.”
“I have a date.”
“Right,” he forced a chuckle. “Yeah, I figured you would.” He straightened in his chair. “Being Valentine’s and all. No problem, just wanted to check.”
“Ahhh, Danny,” she sighed. “What about you?”
“I got a hot date all weekend,” he said over a grimace. “With that friggin’ tango, I guess.”
“Danny, do yourself a favor,” she said firmly. “Go get yourself laid. I told you that’s what’s missing from your tango.”
“Well then,” he quipped. “Support the arts and break your date. I can be there in an hour.”
“Har har har,” she said and then laughed for real. “Seriously, go fall for someone. Preferably someone who will fall for you back.”
“Okay,” he agreed. “For you, I’ll try my best.”
Daniel hung up and pounded out a few more notes on the keyboard in front of him, contemplating Kelly’s method music theory that said you could only sing or play what you’d experienced. If that were the case, his tango would remain a virginal one if his luck so far was any indication.
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Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic-romance, as well as a mother and teacher. You may visit Anne at her
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