Valentine's Day

It's amazing how some people can blow this one ordinary day into the most extraordinary day filled with so many expectations which their partner inevitably will fail to fulfill. There's a reason why February the 14th is not a public holiday- that's because there is no distinctive feature to it. Christ wasn't born on that day neither did any political figure get assassinated. Its just a pagan love festival that puts pressure on people to spend beyond their means and brave the subzero temperatures so that they won't be left out the day after when their girlfriends are gushing over what 5-star restaurant their better halves took them to or which country they visited in a chartered jet whilst under the impression they were only headed to the next city.

It would make for a very interesting thesis why one day should be singled out to prove to your partner that you love him/her. Surely this should be a gesture that is upheld everyday, or are the proponents of this Valentine's charade trying to say that one rose/chocolate/champagne-filled day makes up for several days of horrible treatment, staying out late and not paying your partner any attention whatsoever. If you really love your man or woman, they should be able to feel it constantly rather than have to wait till Valentine's day to be presented with the proof.

Okay, lets say that you are going to observe the non-public holiday that is 'vals day' as my fellow Nigerians refer to it, I don't see why the organization of the day has to carried out under a clandestine conditions. Er, what is wrong with actually making plans with your man because I guarantee you that close to 90 percent of men will not of their own volition go about making random reservations in restaurants or buying last minute tickets to Paris or the biggest expectation of all buy that engagement ring. Okay I recognize that I may have gone a step to far with that last one. Sorry, romantics, Febuary 14th may just be the day when that romantic proposal will arrive, I didn't mean to dash your hopes.

Surely it makes more sense to ask your man what he wants and he asks you what you want. Unless of course, he knows you so well that presenting that nuclear physics textbook he thought you needed wont be greeted by your eyes rolling into the back of your head then he can hazard an executive guess as to what sort of gift you would like. A lot of valentines days for women end in major disappointment when that Louis Vuitton bag does not materialize and they find themselves driving not towards the Michael Buble concert but to Mr Biggs/Macdonalds because of a lack of communication.

Come on girls, be proactive if it means that much to you. If your man has told you that he is not 'into' Vals, please believe him for the sake of maintaining a normal blood pressure. Because once the clock strikes 12.01 am on 15th February then if you haven't already got your dream gift then it doesn't really qualify as a Valentine's day present the next day or the day after if/when something resembling a gift finally arrives. Therefore if you really want to go to that afore-mentioned concert do yourself a favour and book those tickets way in advance when they are still at a reasonable price and do mention it to your boyfriend way in advance because it is not unknown for Man Utd and Chelsea to be playing on Valentines day and no he will not miss that match for you.

Also, if you know that you suffer internal bleeding if you simply do not receive a befitting gift on vals day, I suggest that you drop clear hints(read= specifications and dimensions) of the sort of present you want so that you don't become the pathetic and desperate self-purchaser of your own Valentine's gift in a bid to safe face! This is a true story by the way, a friend of a friend was said to have gone to a lot of trouble to fully stock up a hamper with chocolates, lingerie,wine, perfume, a teddy bear and a strongly-worded card just so she could watch her girlfriends turn green in envy when her package was delivered and subsequently start 'flashing/missed-calling' their toasters to call them back so they too could be seen to be not without a suitor. Now I'm not holding this against anyone at all, everyone has their own thresholds when it comes to public displays of appreciation so if you have to send yourself presents so that you can walk a little bit taller on February 15th then why not?

It would be so much easier though just to drop heavy hints about how important vals days is to you though. If the man really cares, he will file this is his medula and set 5 or 6 reminders on his phone for the days leading up to vals and deliver the goods. If not,despair not, it doesn't mean that he doesn't love you, it just means you can take back that expensive watch you bought for him and use the money to buy yourself a hamper and send to yourself at work. Problem solved!