No V.D. This Year

I'm awaiting my plane. Heading off on the first leg of my trip. NYC to LA, LA to Aukland NZ, Aukland NZ to Brisbane AU. I'm thoroughly confused as to how much time I will actually be in the air...and if you know...don't comment here...I think it is better I be kept in the dark.

Last night as I was reviewing my itinerary with Hubby, I was interested to see that I take off on Feb 13th and land on Feb 15th...crossing the dateline.

Hubby smartly commented, "You've always hated Valentine's Day and now you've actually found a way to erase it from your calendar." My reply? Laughing, "Honey - you just gave me my blog topic."

For those of you who like this holiday and get into the dancing bears, flowers, lingerie, chocolates etc. Enjoy. I happily leave you this day.

For those of you, like me, that have bad memories of Valentine's Days in the past and/or just don't cater to the Hallmark holidays, take a tip from me. Travel acoss the dateline and miss it completely!

When I was a little girl, I remember that everyone gave and everyone received Valentines. We used to have tissue box mailboxes on our desks or maybe a manila envelope stapled at the sides to make a pocket and taped to our chairs. Rarely a "special" valentine was given or received to denote that you had a greater standing than those who just got the dime a dozen paper cartoon valentines.

As I grew older, the valentines grew fewer and far between, and most February's found me wishing that I was of the popular and sought after girls who were singled out in homeroom by a "special delivery" carnation for those high school fundraisers (also known as heartbreakers). A few girls walked around with white (friendship), pink (caring), and red (true love) in bunches. A few more had just one - but it was very precious to them. Too many others had none.

I remember a particularly sad day when I actually asked a male friend of mine if I gave him the $2 would he buy/send me a flower anonymously? He wisely declined. Even a high schooler should know when to accept her fate.

In college - one week before Valentine's Day 1986 - I met my mate. And on Valentine's Day he gave me flowers and a hand-drawn card with Opus as a cupid. I still have that card. And that is the one and only Valentine's Day that has a sentimental meaning to me.

Although we have been happily together since that day, I don't need February 14 to celebrate it. He tells me he loves me every day. Truly. And I tell him.

So begone carnations, roses, and lillies; take away those chocolates and cards; no dinner reservations or pumped up prices for romantic getaways for us. This year I've beat you. I'll be somewhere over the Pacific Ocean - and Valentine's Day will not happen this year.

Sweet.