While scanning through Yahoo News, I found an article about a Welsh man who sliced off his own testicles to celebrate Wales beating England in a highly contested rugby match. Wales hadn't beaten England in 12 years and before the match the man said that if Wales won, he would cut off his balls. Following through on his promise, the fanatic is now in serious condition. This man was devoted to his team, he kept his promises, and in a moment of happiness, he gave a little of himself to the team. That's love.
Like the frighteningly devoted Welshman, I made a promise to myself a year ago. It was a Saturday night, Valentine's Day, and I had come back to my parents' house to avoid being alone in my dorm room. (That just seemed hyper-pathetic.) My parents were out on a date and I was left eating some spaghetti and watching old movies on television. That's when the pledge to myself slipped out, \Next year, I will not be alone on Valentine's Day.""
I remember when I uttered it, my dogs looked at me like I was crazy-which says a lot considering they lick themselves and eat food that's been buried in the yard.
Now that a year has passed, I can look back with my wisdom and experience I gained and wonder what my problem was.
Why did I, or any of us, try to make a big deal about Valentine's Day? Any cynical person will tell you it's a holiday created by greeting card companies to rob you blind of money, time and decency. It is supposed to be a holiday to celebrate and embrace love, kindness and all the good stuff that makes you shiver. So why can't we celebrate that every day? Why should we pick one day in February to isolate it? Shouldn't we show how much we appreciate each other whenever we get the opportunity?
So instead of complaining, I am proposing Valentine's Year, or maybe something with a better title, like The Non-Stop Love Block. No more greeting cards, cheap chocolate, flowers, or insincere sentiments. Non-Stop Love Block, or as the cool kids call it NSLB, will be a cultural turning point. It allows you to tell your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them whenever you deem necessary. It may sound corny, but it's high time we start sharing our feelings about each other. I know I have gone weeks, even months without telling my friends how much I value them. NSLB gives us the reason, and the medium to express our feelings for one another.
With this revolutionary year-long holiday, we could give practical gifts-or no gifts at all. You could purchase a textbook for your special someone, or help them move out in August. I'd take that over a Whitman's Sampler any day. With the NSLB, everybody wins! (Well, except the greeting card companies-they would lose pretty bad.)
So, start today. This year is going to be different. No more bitching about being lonely. We've got friends, we've got pets and we've got life-like houseplants. Let's take the year to celebrate and acknowledge the love we already have. Let's do it for our super fan in Wales and grab life, and love, by the balls.
erincanty8285@hotmail.com.
