sickypoo and I love you.

Phew. Being sick effectively knocked me on my a** for the last two days. I left work just before 11 on Tuesday, got home just after noon and fell into my bed. I always figure that when I have a cold all I really need is one day in bed and then I'll be functional enough to return to normal life. Usually this theory is correct. Not so this time. I was feeling a little better Tuesday night until I tried to go to sleep. And I couldn't find a position that allowed me to be comfortable and allowed me to breathe at the same time. I think you'll agree that it's pretty hard to sleep when you can't breathe. I woke up Wednesday feeling worse than I did on Tuesday (which I would not have thought possible). I called into work and then stayed in my bed until 4:00pm. However, through the miracles of DayQuil and Airborne, I started to feel better yesterday evening. Here I am, back at work and almost totally better, thank goodness.


And just in time for Valentine's Day! Now, I am usually pretty vocal about how much I do not like Valentine's Day. About how I think it's silly and kind of mean. I mean, at this point with all the commercialization it's designed to make you feel like total crap if you're single (and I just think there are enough things that make you feel like total crap if you're single). I have been known to go on a tirade or two about how much I hate Valentine's Day.


But I will let you in on a little secret.


I am completely full of crap.


I love Valentine's Day. I love the thought of getting your significant other a little gift and going out for dinner and a movie or something on an otherwise random day in February. I love that there's a special day of the year set aside for people to show how much they love each other. I love that more people get engaged on Valentine's Day than any other day of the year. It's romantic and fabulous, and I am kind of a hopeless romantic when it all gets down to it. I just don't love that I never have anything going on that day. The last time I had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day was the 10th grade. He stopped at my house and dropped off a pair of ski socks and the ugliest necklace I have ever seen on his way to a hockey game. Nothing says romance like horrible jewelry and ditching your girlfriend for a hockey game.


So it's easier just to say it's stupid and move on, in true bitter-single-girl fashion. But this year I have decided to do things differently. This year I embrace Valentine's Day. I reject the commercialization of it (except for the chocolate, I mean come on now) and I reject that it's supposed to make me feel like I should have a boyfriend in order to fit with the program. Instead, I am taking this Valentine's Day as an opportunity to show love. This is my public Valentine to all of you who are special to me in some way or another. Whether I see you every day or hardly at all. Whether we're very good friends or just friendly acquaintances. Whether you know how much you mean to me or you don't. Thanks for being a part of my life.


Happy Valentine's Day, I love you. :)