Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Delen: St. Valentine's Day 2 By Annie Delen Jaded Mind
LAST February 14, we talked about the perils (?) of Valentine's Day most especially for single people. See meaning of UNATTACHED. Yours truly being an official member of the jaded and cynical, this corner questioned the practice of making that day exclusively for couples. In fact, in a fit of temporary insanity, I believe I even dared people to send in their objections via email. Along with the dare was a promise to have it published in place of my usual ravings against everything under the sun. One of my friends said that was a sneaky ploy to get out of my responsibility, which is to fill this space up with words, words, words and more words. Am I really that transparent? (sigh). I can never be a successful politician in this lifetime. To make matters worse, no one took the bait. That means I'll never be good at fishing either. (deeper sigh).
So, I asked my optimistic friend Kim Ji Hoon. He was featured in one of my earlier columns as the guy who believed that New Year's Resolutions only last for three days. His girlfriend Ann is back in Korea preparing for her exams while he is here studying English. So if there is anyone who deserves to feel lonely on February 14, it's him. But true to his character, he was able to see the positive side of being single. Here it is...
Valentine's Day is for the martyr, St. Valentine who married people illegally.
But I just wonder why we have to set this day to give people chocolate. Did Saint Valentine eat chocolate while he was being killed? Chocolate has nothing to do with him. Far from lamenting his death, they made it a festival. It doesn't make sense. Rumor has it that the idea came from a chocolate company. And I'm sure it's true.
But as long as it is already settled as a festival, we better enjoy it.
Some single people probably think it's a terrible day because the festive occasion highlights their being alone. They might even think they are pitiful because no one is around them to get chocolate from. But I don't think so. Let's reverse the situation. Single people have an excuse to be pa-cute. (I swear I didn't teach him the word "pa-cute".) It means they can approach anyone they love, naturally. They are not going to be a burden to the other, checking his/her feelings.
If the recipient asks what the chocolate is for, the excuse is here ... because it's Valentine's Day! How natural it is! One can even try giving chocolate to handsome/gorgeous stranger! Who cares? It is the day of hearts. Afraid of being rejected? Don't be. It's not the end until the fat lady sings. So it's good for single people!
Actually this day is terrible for couples. Why? They are already couples. They don't need to check their feelings for each other, buying lots of chocolate. As a couple, emotions don't come from chocolate. It's from the heart. Then again, I believe it also applies to those who don't have partners yet. If you are single, I want you not to measure your lover's heart by counting chocolates.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that most of the people in the world are in chocolate companies' hands on Valentine's Day. Neither couples nor single people can escape from these companies. Do you agree with me? Ok then, let's play right into their hands because your gf/bf or your ms/mr right might be out there waiting for you to give him/her chocolate.** Kim Ji Hoon
Truth be told, he was hesitant to write at first and I can't blame him. Most single people would not have been able to see the positive side of their plight because as I said before, the day is focused on people with partners. (Check previous column.) Again, this is simply my opinion and you are welcome to disagree.
On a related topic, I am quite heartened to know that despite Saint Valentine's Day being converted into a commercial excuse for chocolate, jewelry, flower etc. promotions, there still are some people out there who believe otherwise. Call it sour graping but just in case some of you are interested even this late in the day, there are websites that offer tips on how to survive being single on days that are by commercial reasons been converted to days that require a partner. One tip from my student Leon is this. Get roaring drunk on the 13th of February, sleep through the 14th and wake up on the 15th. Which reminds me, "What's the date today?"
