Don't bring me flowers for
Valentine’s Day. Have you noticed the price of flowers on Valentine’s Day? Early in our marriage my dear husband brought
me gorgeous bunches of red roses for
Valentine’s Day. Then one year just
prior to another Valentine's Day I noticed the sign in the flower shop on my
way to work. A bunch of roses for
Valentine’s Day was $50.00. Fifty dollars! I couldn't believe what I was
seeing. Did I not pass this same flower shop a month ago and they were selling
a bunch of roses for under $20.00? Did my eyes deceive me? Say it isn't so
.
You see I have always considered myself a
practical person - sometimes to a fault. We were just starting out, raising a
young family and I felt the cost of roses was highway robbery. He loves Valentine’s
Day and so as a compromise I would say bring me a plant instead so I can put it
in my garden in spring. This way the money doesn't fade away in a week. That
was then, many years ago and I have no idea what a bunch of roses for
Valentine's Day cost today but every now and then he can't resist the urge to
sneak a few roses in on Valentine's Day.
Well, at least we can afford it now but I still remind him that I would
rather have a plant.
But the no flowers policy for Valentine’s Day
is only one of my objections to Valentine’s Day spending. I do not think that Valentine’s Day is
necessary for a number of reasons and I have continually nagged my husband not
to make a big deal of the day. Love should be a year round exercise so I see
valentine day as a cop out for many who feel they can delay gestures of love
until once a year. I would rather have Valentine’s Day once a month in the form
of something special like a date night or those daily gestures of love like
helping out around the house, fixing the broken window and all those little
acts that make me feel valued and loved.
The only ones that really
benefit from Valentine’s Day are the businesses. They tempt you with diamonds,
chocolates, reds and pinks, and all the fluff and frills for one day of love. And
have you noticed that Valentine’s Day is primarily marketed for women and the
pressure is on men to spend to let the woman know she is loved? Commercials like "he went to
Jared’s" or "every kiss begins with kay" are all geared toward
getting women to salivate over expensive jewelry and men to empty their pockets
to satisfy these wants.
