A Valentine's Rant

Not a misanthropic one, though. Not even a bitter one, really.

I guess I find Valentine's day mildly annoying. I once really hated it -- the commercialism, the opportunity for people to draw attention to relationships they may well be insecure about, all of that. I've gotten so I don't mind that stuff so much any more. People can live their lives with or without my approval, and it's no skin off my nose if people want to spend a bunch of money or wear pink shirts and hold hands.

My issue is with the Valentine's card people. I went to Target to pick out Valentine's cards for my Mom and my Granny, and there isn't a single card there that I'm comfortable with. The ones that are supposed to be funny are either mean or they have a fat guy with a fu manchu wearing a purple leotard -- no thanks. The sweet ones are for people with whom you're in a relationship, so no help there. The ones to sons and daughters don't help too much.

Out of desperation, I started looking for Garfield or Snoopy or something, and wouldn't you know it, they don't exist. Why isn't there a card with a nice little heart or flower or something on the front and on the inside, a simple "Happy Valentine's Day?" The closest I saw had some three-dimensional lollipop on the front and said something about "yummy." Ick.

I guess I'll either get busy with construction paper and crayons or I'll just give them a call and apologize.