One of my most despised days of the year. A day I choose not to leave my home despite pleas from my girlfriend to “go out and do something”. Clearly she sees the day in a very different way than I.

I hate Valentine’s day.

There’s this scene in The Simpsons which makes me think of Valentine’s day every time I watch it. The one where Mr. Burns falls in love with Marge (Season 4, Episode 5 – Marge Gets a Job). In an infatuated high over Marge, Mr. Burns cries out over the PA System: “Everyone who has found true love may leave early today!”. The power plant employees all flee with delight as the scene pans to one guy with a sad, empty look on his face and a tear rolling down his cheek as he wipes it away.

For me, this is what Valentine’s day is about. A day that kicks people who are down.

Obviously, this day is meant to be viewed more as a celebration of love. But I don’t see it that way. Love is not a race, it comes when it comes. There is no reward for being in love when others aren’t. Love does not need a day for it to be celebrated.

I would consider myself a hopeless romantic. I like sappy chick flicks. I like the Notebook, Serendipity, Moulin Rouge, and A Walk to Remember. I get touched and my heart melts when I feel love, a love that manages to triumph over any obstacle.

But I don’t feel that love on Valentine’s day. Not in the slightest.

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By the way, has anyone seen my manhood? I seem to have misplaced it while writing this post…