V's Day Syndrome

When February comes, the epidemic of V's Day Syndrome massively spreads. Not only locally, regionally, but even globally. What is this V's Day Syndrome? It's a pseudo public holiday created by greeting card companies, chocolate companies, florists, food service industry, beauty parlors and gift shops. Just like HIV, anyone (singles having nobody, as well as those already in a relationship) can get infected.

The sympthom, which is the obvious feeling like crap that makes people ranging from find a sanctuary in alcohol haven to commit suicide, get even worse when the date gets nearer and nearer to the February 14th. (I myself wonder why V's Day doesn't fall on the 13th (bad luck number), so that it will even more perfectly complete the depressing effects it has on people!)

Those industries I mentioned earlier always deny the fact that V's Day is especially dedicated to lovers. "No, no, no, V's Day is very universal, for love is very universal! It's not only for lovers, but it is a special day when you have a chance to express your love to your loved ones, be it your friends or family!"

What a bullshit! I'm pretty sure nobody feels good receiving a card from own mother, no matter how much that person loves her! In fact, I bet that person would feel pathetic! Besides, if that's the case (expressing love to loved ones), it can be done everyday of the year, can't it?

No way, I strongly believe V's Day is all about romance and somehow people are forced to feel terrible toward themselves if they don't have a lover, or worse, if their own lovers don't do or give something special to them. Hey, it's nothing to do with romance then! It's pure capitalism!

I spent last year's V's Day with my girls. It was the 11 (or 12?) of us, who more than half of them were brokenhearted. We checked in to a hotel (using the voucher meant for someone never made it back), all dressed in red and went to have simple dinner at a roadside tent then fancy drinks at a five star hotel. Nobody got drunk that night. In fact, we had very marvelous catching up conversations till the dawn was about to break. However, in the morning, I woke up to some girls discussing about suicide methods.

See?! Even though we had each other and just had one of the most fabulous nights in our lives, V's Day still made us think of committing suicide.

Do we really need to have romance that much? Do we really allow V's Day to make us feel like crap among so many other good things we have?