Apparently Candy and I Both Have A Crappy Exterior

All morning long I had been forgetting that it was Valentine's Day. If it wasn't for the fact that one of my close friends and my step dad both have Birthday's today, the holiday would be completely lost on me.

True story. And he doesn't talk back.

Truthfully, I've never been a fan of this holiday and it's not just because I'm single. I know many single people out there hate it because they have to watch couples everywhere shitting their pants with hearts and rainbows out of happiness. And I know many people out there in relationships hate this holiday because they are forced to buy some cliche gift for their special someone. I'm not really sure why I'm not a fan but I do know that it started with my ex and how he ruined this holiday for me.

It was my Jr year of high school and I was so head over heels for my boyfriend. We had broken up for a week but then got back together a few weeks during the holiday season. We went on a  weekend trip to San Fransico with his grandparents and spent the entire time consumed with the bliss of teenage infatuation. We ditched his family and wandered around the city basking in the beautiful holiday glow of Christmas time and under the twinkling festive lights told each other "I Love You" for the first time. Two months later things were completely different and the day before Valentine's Day he broke my heart. After a breakup phone call outside of school where he told me "this isn't going to work" I got home from Cheerleading practice to find a red envelope on my kitchen table with my name written in his tiny scribble. With shaky hands, I opened the envelope to a card that said "Good friends are like Valentine's Day" on the outside and "It's what's inside that makes them special" on the inside. Tears streamed down my face as I threw the card across my living room and went into my bedroom slamming the door. I didn't even notice he wrote "I hope we can still be friends" underneath the hurtful words that the card provided, but I didn't need to. The generic card said it all.

I'm not telling you this story to make you depressed on Valentine's Day or to feel bad for me (although you can if you want, it was pretty shitty). I'm telling you it because now I look back on that story and as much as it makes me ache for my  17 year old self, it also makes me laugh because what a dick move that was. Him and I still talk from time to time and we even got back together for a little bit when we were in our early 20's. But every year on Valentine's Day, I send him a little text or email that says...

"Good Friends are like Valentine's day candy."

Just like on my Birthday, he sends me one that says "Happy Birthday n shit".

Since that Valentine's Day, I've been a little bit more cynical towards this holiday but I don't think my dislike for today has anything to do with that anymore. I think it just has to do with the fact that if you love people, you shouldn't have a designated Hallmark holiday to tell them so. But Demanda also reminded me that this holiday is about friendship (I think she was just trying to get in my pants.) Even though I hate this holiday, I'm still going to take this chance to let you know we love all of you so much. You brighten our lives and you're all so positive, supportive and uplifting. Thank you to all of our friends and followers for being amazing. Hope you have a Borderline Phenomenal Valentine's Day and if we can leave you with any advice, this would be it.