Roses, Chocolates, Stuffed Teddy Bears, and a really ticked off Server

For years now, there has been a creeping shadow behind me that grows every year at the end of January, which has made me become overwhelmingly aware of the animosity I feel when I pass that ridiculously pink aisle at the grocery store. It's not the cheap value of chocolate products, fake roses, or poorly constructed teddy bears, but the all to present awareness that I want (and care) for a boy to give me a box of those substandard sweets that cost $5.99.

However, I spent the day of Feb. 14th working (the whole day might I add). Twelve hours of standing on my feet serving sappy love birds that rarely go out to dinner, but decided to splurge on said special day, and in turn left little or no tip because they were only willing to splurge on the food itself (do you hear the resentment).

My second shift began at 5:00 pm. As I walked the floor a friend/fellow server decided to attach to my head a Valentine's head band, that could only be described as Care Bear Ears on my head. So there I was helping each love bird in turn, rocking Care Bear Love Ears, and a scowl upon my face, wishing for cheap chocolates from the stupid pink store aisle (knowing none would arrive and so wanting a cigarette because quitting sucks), and it dawned on me:

"Who would have thought that my Valentines Day celebrations would have peaked in 5th grade when Dennis asked me to attend the school supported tea party (which was really a way to teach us manners and didn't have tea but lime sherbet in generic Sprite soda)?"

This thought weirdly put a smile to my face. And I thought of myself at age 10, dressed in that white frilly dress of mine, standing from my desk and getting in paired lines, Dennis directly in the line next to me. We proceeded down the hall, down the stairs, to the small theater the school had decorated with small tables and glass tea cups, and every table was silent, no one could say a thing to each other. We all just wore blushed cheeks and bashful glances.

Oh, those were the days. If only we women knew at the time how great our love lives were in elementary school. Let's face it, construction paper hearts, decorated shoe boxes, and a bit of glue got us pretty far back in the day. And you didn't even have to hold the boys hand if you didn't want to, let alone put on a ridiculously uncomfortable outfit, or kiss the guy. No, with the use of dulled scissors and a paper doily a girl could get all the sweets and love letters she needed to last her until the next year.

The looming shadow eased a bit as I remembered all those treats in elementary school. Next year, I have decided no matter what I do on February 14th, I will carry around a Valentine's Day Decorated Shoe Box to be filled with treats. And maybe I'll track down Dennis for a real cup of tea.