The dreaded Hallmark holiday

It's that time of year again when everyone here is pressured in to monetarily expressing their heartfelt and undying affection even for those they don't like. I've disliked valentine's day since high school. I can't say I really thought much about it before then but I clearly remember guys coming in to by a bouquets of flowers or dozens of roses for their multiple girlfriends and asking to have us write out the cars (presumably poor penmanship making that task too difficult). One guy had me write "To my one and only " on three different cards. More common though was "I need gift and it doesn't matter what it is but I'll catch hell if I come home empty handed". Just sort of screams undying affection doesn't it?!? I had friends in college that would go in to a decline when their fathers failed to send them flowers (or more accurately when they were delivered a day late).

Now I dislike it for the last minute pressure to provide valentines and candy for all of the kids classmates, teachers and friends. In addition to a card for each of the kid's classmates (which wasn't mentioned until Tuesday) they've been soliciting donations for "Val-o-grams". For only $1 a piece I can have a scented pencil or a small candy bar sent to the student or teacher of my choice. I refused to send any but the kids both ponied up some cash. Sheela sent one to Sunil, one to each of her best friends, her favorite teacher and herself (just in case no one else thought to). Sunil sent one to Sheela and to a couple of his friends. When they thought I would pay they were going to send them to dozens of other kids.