Also, two quotes, compliments of Rob Brezsny's e-newsletter

[sun_set_bravely]

"To love is to tilt with the lightning, two bodies routed by a single honey's sweet."
-Pablo Neruda

"Pillowed on your thighs in a dream garden,
little flower with its perfumed stamen,
singing, sipping from the stream of you --
sunset, moonlight -- our song continues."
-Ikkyu Sojun

~ ~ ~

And, oh, ha ha -- I just realized why the entire opening of his newsletter was a flood of quotes about love. I read the e-mail and thought, "Geez, someone's a little love-happy around here." Right. Valentine's Day.

Myself, I don't care for the holiday too much. Sure, I like the idea of celebrating a day about love, but in practice, it tends to feel forced and kind of annoying to everyone around.

Question: In your experience, do women or men get more into Valentine's Day activities? Who gets more excited about the celebration?

Comments

[freak1c.livejournal.com]

In one of the One Mic Project recording sessions the other day, this topic came up.

Being one who loves to banter about Gender, I thought the question was interesting: Here we go:

So men are told: Ey Yo, you gotta do right by your woman on Valentines day, even above and beyond what you do for her every other day. I don't care if you bring her flowers once a week, you better bring her 40 trillion flowers and some choco-lates on the 14th of Feb. So they're always telling us this, and they insist (Don't Worry about who "They" is) that even if a girl says she doesn't like the day, you better do something cuz then she'll remember you not doing anything and hate the day even MORE!!!

Of course I realize all the arguments here:

- Who is they? They is Corporate America, wanting to buy and be patriotic.
- If someone says they don't like it - it's true, not some game.

etc...but what I'm saying is that when a myth is present, it perpetuates itself even in those aware of the inherant faults of said myth.

But your question was more direct than that answer - I do think that most guys get into it. The conversation we had the other day consisted of 3 people in who have the opportunity to celebrate this day with another person. The two women in the group stated their dislike for the day, even though their boyfriends were excited about it. And the one man said that he can get pretty excited as well about Valentine's Day.

...

I like it because it's fun. I mean - why not? Why not have fun with it - it's mid-winter, it's cold and dark and everything else, why not have a nice dinner and gifts and good love?

...
Oh! I just had another theory. I was sitting here and thinking and here's what came out:

"I like it because it's a chance to show your girl that she's really special. In fact - the most special one in the world. >>>Hell - I know I'm not going to be upstaged romantically by my friends. Oh shit, Earnest is doing this and doing that. I better step it up. Oh and I bet this guy is going to do that and this. Better not do that. Gotta be better than that.>>>Wait a minute - this is a competition now?>>>Yah - I guess it is in a way. It's peacocks, it's roosters, it's lions. We're puffing our feathers and ruffing our manes and showing of our Skills. It's a hip-hop love battle. And Damn if I'm going to get schooled on THIS mic. Shit. Better go shopping today."

There you have it - a moment in my brain. Hey, and speaking of which - would you say that oh - you liked Red or White - things. Better? Given the choice, would you want 4,024 chocolated or 843 truffles. I'm just sayin' boo. 'Sup?>!?

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I always thought women do, but I'm not sure.