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The heartbreak of Valentine’s Day

February 14th, 2011 Posted in Opinion

By David Bowman

It’s that time of year again when people let their hormones get the better of them and throw away their better judgment and common sense. As far as an individual may be concerned they could be lucky, so to speak. But others could be facing absolute disaster at every turn.

I’m talking about Valentine’s Day. That one day of the year where women get all googly-eyed and start daydreaming about romantic picnics, dinners, flowers and proposals. Men on the other hand may find themselves dreading this day.  This dread could come from not being prepared or just not knowing how to meet the expectations of their significant other.

• Click here for National Public Radio’s “The Dark Origins of Valentine’s Day.”

I’ve got my own experience of failing to meet the expectations of a significant other. I had this great night planned out for my fiancé and I and everything was going great. I bought her a dozen roses, plus one. I took that extra rose and diligently plucked every petal off and wrapped them in a paper tissue.  To top off this diligence I wrote a poem that took me what seemed like forever to write and re-write.

I went to her work to pick her up by surprise. When she saw me she was definitely surprised, so surprised in fact that I probably should have been worried. But I was giddy and continued with my plan. I delivered the poem to her and while she was reading it I showered her with the rose petals. The timing could not have been more perfect because I did this at the exact moment that she read the part in the poem about rose petal showers.

She started to cry before the end of the poem and I wasn’t sure how to react. I was about to say something when I heard a voice behind me say, “Hey is this guy giving you trouble?”

I turned to look and I did not recognize the man and turned back to my fiancé and all she could say was, “I’m sorry.” I then watched her walk away with the stranger.

I was unprepared for the events of that night and since then I have been left with bitter feeling in regards to V-Day. Of course I know that this is only one example of some of the disasters that can befall and individual on what is supposed to be one of the more romantically commercialized days of the year.

I’m pretty sure that I am a rare exception and I probably should not have my opinion taken by the masses. But for those that share the same experience that I have just remember one thing, you are not alone in your resentment of this day that is supposed to be the herald of all things that represent love.

TP

Tags: heartbreak, Valentine's Day