Ok, since no one is really mentioning this Saturday, I will start the new topic. I am surrounded by the images every time I walk into the grocery store, drug store, florist. It is everywhere. I never thought about this for 22 years and here I am spending it ALONE.

What will you be doing. I am rounding out my plans which I would like to share.

I will peruse the valentine candy on Saturday and look for 1/2 price quantities of chocolate.

Eat 3 pounds of chocolate, make myself violently ill; buy cheap wine, drink till the room spins; watch when Harry meets Sally, act out the diner scene; drink more, try to call H and OW, misdial; kiss the dog; toss empty wine bottle through the TV; make random calls to various help lines; check marriagebuilders looking for others like myself; barf on PC; crawl to bed; start to see pink elephants; have images of pigs in white dresses.

Watch all 4 "Die Hard" movies. Okay-maybe I'll skip the third one.

We can maybe rent the classic "my bloody Valentine", does it have a happy ending?

Think of the 200 plus lives that have been lost in the Victorian bushfires in Australia over the last 4 days. Family friends of our died in their house, mum, dad a 7 year old, 5 year old and a 2 year old. Husbands lost wives, kids lost parents, whole families are dead. Over 750 homes have been burnt to the ground.

On Valentine's Day, just thank God that you're alive. We're in pain, yes, but we're alive and we have another chance at life and in love with our WS or with someone new in the future. We have a future and it's going to be amazing.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Valentine's Day is just Saturday. Shop online and have your shopping delivered and then it will disappear. We've had Hot Cross Buns and Easter Eggs for sale since mid January so the Valentine's Day garb is just part of the picture.

WH has the kids so I will be on my own. I'm thinking of going to a show or just watching a movie I love like Chocolat and then spending the night at my sister's house alone, she's on holidays. It's just another day...

Your WH will probably take a moment and wonder what you're doing so don't waste that momentary thought. Have an awesome time whatever you decide to do and celebrate life and living it now.

“Life is not the way it's supposed to be… It's the way it is...
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference.”

WEll I not only work in a grocery store, but I work in produce right next to the floral department, so I am going to do my best not to cry.
I always got the sweetest cards and flowers, he always picked the ones where you write you own words. Now he's gone and I am alone.

I'm so sorry for your loss, 2M2L. My thoughts are with you and all of the Aussies dealing with the horror that the fires are bringing.

Your take on life is encouraging and your quote is something worth remembering.

Take care.

hi 2much2lose, sorry for the tragedy and loss over there. I saw the scenes on the news.

Of course I am happy that I am alive and healthy.

This sitch was more of a tongue in cheek view on VD. It is the elephant in the room noone wants to mention.

Figured it would be better for people to come here and talk about it then suffer in silence.

For some of us it was just one day, but for others it always has been a special day with special memories. I want to validate that for anyone who wants to talk about it.

I wanted to use humor as a way to reduce stress and pain.

It would have been my wedding anniversary. I am invited to a wedding that evening. Sigh. I've sort of gotten used to this. It's been a few years.

I joke that for my 12th anniversary, I got pregnant. For my 15th, I had the second child (2/17) and, for the 15th anniversary, he announced he wanted a divorce.

I used to go out to dinner with a friend who had also gotten married on 2/14. We celebrated our survival of our husbands. Hers did her worse than mine....Bill died of AIDS which he got from a male co-worker. Mine just left to pursue a female co-worker.

2m2--I have not heard what has happened in Australia??? Haven't been watching the news or anything for the past few days...But, I am so, so sorry to hear about this tragedy. What took place? That is so horrible. Our prayers are with you all.

As for me, my BH and I are getting our taxes done...doesn't that sound like a blast?

I may briefly remember last year's VD--the lovely card from my "soulmate" OM and the nice little necklace he gave me. But, I'm going to try not to dwell on it... I said TRY. So, what? It was just a lie anyway...I'm sure theirs will be lovely too...

I'm just going to be grateful that my BS has given me another chance and he still loves me...I guess he does anyway...

I feel you though...it IS a depressing time.

All the things that I should have been doing for the last 32 yrs. but haven't. Buy her flowers,take her to dinner,take her to a movie. Take her on a cruise. What ever she wants she can have.

I am going to my best friends daughters wedding-with DD, her son and DS. I am loking forward to it actually. It will be alot of fun- we have been friends for 17 years and our families have shared alot.

In fact her DD ( not the one getting married) and my DS were childhood soulmates. They were so cute to watch. Being together at daycare since they were less than a year old-they had no understanding of personal space.

When they were about 4 they would actually watch TV-him running his fingers through her hair and her feet entangled in his. She actually poured his ketchup on his plate at meal time. OH the memories. I wish I had it on video!!

It all ended about 4th grade. You know- when it isn't cool to have a friend that is a boy!!!!

Guess why I told you that is because at 17 they are both now single- And as mothers we have always wondered if they will hook up at some point. So will young romance happen?? It will be fun to watch. Perfect place and time!

So I will enjoy the evening with friends to celebrate the marriage of two young people and the journey they will begin together.

Oh- and I did give the young couple a copy of HN/HN-to get them started down the right path.

Nice to see some are going all out and others are struggling like myself.

Every year, my H would buy flowers for me and buy either stuffed animals or flowers for his girls -- EVERY year for 22 years. We would go out to dinner usually as a family -- nothing fancy but we liked it. The girls would get H chocolate (he is a candy addict) usually a big ole hershey kiss.

I will miss that this first year I am alone. Not sure if he is going to still get flowers for D15 because she has not spoken to him in 1.5 months. I plan on buying something cute and sweet for the girls but I know it won't be the same.

I know it is only one day but it was always a special day and it was memories and history and the OW has taken that from our family.

Last year FWH ignored the day. I bought myself a nice necklace and earring set. He says he ignored the day with OW as well and that caused problems between them. Yeah! I guess at that point a year ago, he was trying to figure out how to get out of the mess he was in. Of course, it took another 2 months until I busted them.

This year I am sort of stumped. I want to do something that won't be a trigger, that is not too extravagant, but has meaning for the work we are doing on the M. No good ideas yet.

AM

Hi cinderella and everyone,

Valentine's day IS my wedding anniversary. It will the 20th this year. We will exchange presents. I have not chosen one for him yet, and he has asked if I'd like jewellery, which I would. We will take our S12 out for an early family meal and probably curl up in front of a DVD when we get home.

VD Day? Sorry, but LOL

I was not looking forward to Valentine's a couple months ago but now I am. We are planning a family weekend away. Nowhere to put the kids for just a couples weekend but I know we will have plenty of alone time and I love spending the time with my little ones around. So far my plans are to have SF first thing when I wake up and SF as the last thing before I go to sleep.

You go, girl!

(Actually, it does not work when I say that in my English accent. Let me substitute a round of applause instead.)

When the rest of you chime in with "ahh, Sugar, that's lovely!" I'll finish my story.

I'm determined to get an Oscar or a Grammy or something from this board.

The weether report for VD is hot and muggy, so SF is not high on either of our "what we want for VD" lol.
I am trying (badly) to write a card for H. I don't expect an actual gift back as we don't normally celebrate it.

First post D V Day for me. I have to say Im really looking forward to it. I always found V Day very stressfull. And found it hard to get passed the fact that I was being ripped off!!

Im going to make a bold statement here and say most men hate V Day! The probability of not living up to expectations is just too high.

I will revel in my non participation this year!

But when I become a participant again in the future I will be ready, I will do better, and maybe I will even enjoy it!

Army mama, the obvious choice that won't cost much...

LINGERIE! He won't be complaining AT ALL. You want to work on that M -- well there is your answer. :twobyfour:

Perusing through the valentines cards looking for that special one for my DDH (after years of practice mind you) and I come across those sappy sweet cards that "Wuv you" or "I love you THIS much..." or some such shallowness and I think about all the Waywards that will be buying or receiving THOSE cards because their level of intimacy is inversely related with their level of bullchip shovelling.

Or, their level of intimacy is equal to the marital advice found on a bathroom wall.

Wow...I just want to gag when I read those and think of the 30, 40, and 50-somethings that will be reading drivel...