OK…so it’s not really Cupid’s fault, perhaps Hallmark, Carlton, American Greetings, etc., etc., are to blame. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day evening and I’m bitter. Why? Because all those people out there getting flowers delivered and all those people rushing home to their spouse or s/o…they were all clogging up the entire freakin’ city. I know, I live in LA and LA is notorious for bad traffic, but I spent two hours in bumper to bumper traffic going 15 mph (or less) before I arrived at home tonight. Argh!

OK…so now that my little outburst is done… I miss the true beauty of the day. LA Toddler had so much fun today - in our two hour schlep home tonight she told me - 1. her teachers dyed the cream cheese red so the kids could have “special valentine’s bagels” for breakfast; 2. they used heart shaped cookie cutters to cut the kids sandwiches at lunchtime; 3. they exchanged valentines with all their friends; 4. they ate heart cookies with white icing and red sprinkles…and on and on. She was so excited - she celebrated love all day long. When we got home LA Daddy had made us a lovely candelit dinner complete with red roses at the center of the table. We all oohed and ahhed and had a great big hug and told each other “I love you, Valentine!” and it was great!

Thank goodness for my daughter and husband and their joy in just being together or the hype over the holiday would have killed it for me. I just don’t get the pressure to perform on Valentine’s Day. It’s nearly impossible to plan anything for the day. The guys in my office have all been in a tizzy all week. But they waited until TODAY to go to the card store, florist, etc. In the past 3 days I’ve rescheduled 2 business trips, tracked 1 missing package for a coworker’s high-maintenance girlfriend and made too many dinner reservations for tonight…all in the name of Valentine’s Day. (Although I’m getting Open Table points for those reservations so I can’t really complain.) But I just don’t get it. Who wants to wait in line to buy overpriced roses that will be dead tomorrow? Who wants to be rushed through dinner in an overcrowded restaurant? I’ll take a quiet night at home with my beloved family instead.

From now on, I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day like a two-year old! Thanks LA Toddler and LADaddy! I love you! Happy Valentine’s Day!