Valentine Joy

Here's the tale of my first Valentine's day in forever that I didn't feel that miserable, desperate, frustrated with the world for allowing a holiday that excludes such a significant portion of society just because they aren't married or dating someone. Here's how it went.

I woke up to inches of snow settled on the ground after snowing all night. It was a dry, fluffy snow that feels like little pieces of cold paper. I had to get up early to make it to a fun appointment! It took a little while to unbury my car from the paper pieces, so I was late to the Flower Company to do Valentine's deliveries! So much fun! Taking bouquets of gorgeous flowers to women all over. Ladies in pajamas at home who were so overjoyed at getting roses! Women at work who got to have a huge vase sit on their desk all day to the envy of coworkers. All the way to women who seemed not at all surprised and took the beautiful roses out of obligation or tradition. The deliveries were easy. Everyone was home, no road issues. I got home on time to watch Studio 60 that I taped from Monday night and eat a little lunch before going in to work. At work, first thing was a meeting during which I got a big pat on the back for making a good discovery the night before. Yay me! Then I got all full of this goofy joy inside. I don't know how else to describe it...goofy joy. I ran in to a couple of guys in the hallway and offered huge smiles and "Have a great day!"s and one of them said, "Wow, you're real smiley today" to which the other one responded, "All I can suggest is...random drug testing...". As if the only reason someone would be super cheerful and smiley is if they are high. So I giggled about that, out loud, as I walked down the hall. Then I got to have a fun little conversation with someone else about the joys of Valentine's day and marriage and how it's not always like the movies where everything is great all the time, and about how romance isn't just about candlelight and roses. Romance is about seeing the beauty in the things, appreciating the little things in life. My goofy joy multiplied as I thanked God for giving me a joyful heart and for allowing me to see the beauty in nearly everything and to appreciate the small things in life that turn out to be the best things. Like the crisp, fresh smell of a newly opened rose bud, and a pat on the back by the boss, and realizing that even though everyone in the world doesn't get to experience Valentine's Day for what it was intended to be, I still get goofy with joy thinking about those little cold pieces of paper and smiling for no good reason at people who don't understand why.