Gimme, gimme that thing called love...

Okay, so the themeless restaurant idea was a bust. In four days we only had one customer, and... wouldn't you know it...it was Kevin Bacon, so (of course, because of the manifesto) we had to ask him to leave.

So, today is Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s Day! Some of my friends think that I am bitter towards this holiday, possibly because I say things like, “It looks like a bottle of Pepto Bismol threw up in Hallmark”, but that’s not so much bitterness as sheer truth. Contrary to popular belief, I actually enjoy Valentine’s Day. I love conversation hearts. I love fresh flowers. I love letters. I love chocolate. I love dates. So, seemingly, Valentine’s Day should be my favorite holiday. There is nothing I do not like about it, except for the overpopulation of stuffed animals in all sorts of horrible sizes and colors. Some sort of population control should monitor the production of these things or pretty soon we will have to begin shooting them for sport. I may go to Wal-Mart and try that tomorrow. I am going for the gigantic hot pink bears first, because they make me want to vomit.

I thought this Valentine’s Day was going to be depressing because, for the first time since…well, before college, I did not have a “Valentine”, if you will. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. No phone call to Chris. No frantic last-minute packaging of a gift. I didn’t have to do anything. It was nice to know that I could do (or not do) anything I wanted. I wasn’t expecting anything and no one was expecting anything from me. But, I did receive things, to my delight and dismay. I woke up this morning to a call from my mother telling me that I had received flowers at my parents’ house. Who could have sent them?! I got to their house and saw a beautiful vase full of gerber daisies (my favorite) and lilies, etc. I opened the card: “Happy Valentine’s Day”—Trevor. Trevor?! How sweet is that?! I was disappointed that I couldn’t go to his awesome, blow-out Valentine’s Day party, but the gorgeous flowers made me feel a lot better about sitting in classes and meetings all night. After my meeting I went to coffee with Eric and David, and then stayed to talk to Wade. Wade gave me a box of chocolates, which was completely unexpected, and I had just said to the girl at the counter, “What’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate?” Now I had flowers and chocolate. What more could a girl ask for? I think it’s sad that Valentine’s Day is primarily seen as a day for lovers. (Eww…saying lovers, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.) This year I spent it with friends, and it was the best Valentine’s Day I have had in a long, long time. I saw Rachel, Elizabeth, Eric, David, Wade, and talked to Emily, Ashley, Kim, Cara, Trevor, and Grant. I saw my family and spent some time with them. So, I at least saw or talked to almost everyone I love (minus a few key people, i.e. Kimmy H., Danielle, Grandma, Kris, Keren, and Jason). That’s what this day is all about to me; letting people know how much I love them. I, in turn, felt very loved today, and that is always a terrific feeling! Despite my outward ambivalence, I truly do enjoy Valentine’s Day-- cutting hearts out of folded red construction paper and writing, “Will you be my Valentine?” in black Crayon. I didn’t actually do that this year, but I did it in 1st grade and gave it to John Gardner…he said yes.

I was listening to the soundtrack from the musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie", and found this song to be fitting for the occasion.

"Gimme, Gimme"

A simple choice, nothing more
This or that, either or
Marry well, social whirl, business man, clever girl
Or pin my future on a green glass love
What kind of life am I dreaming of?
I say gimme, gimme ... gimme, gimme
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I want it
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I need it
Highs and lows, tears and laughter
Gimme happy ever after
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I crave it
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I'll brave it
Thick and thin, rich or poor times
Gimme years and I'll want more time
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I'm free now
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I see now
Fly, dove! Sing, sparrow!
Gimme Cupid's famous arrow
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I don't care if he's a nobody
In my heart he'll be a somebody
Somebody to love me!
I need it
Gimme, gimme that thing called love
I want it
Here I am, St. Valentine
My bags are packed, I'm first in line
Aphrodite, don't forget me
Romeo and Juliet me
Fly, dove! Sing, sparrow!
Gimme fat boy's famous arrow
Gimme, gimme that thing called love!