.......that's right. I cannot wait......for it to finally come and effin' GO!!!! Jeeeez Louise......
Of all the Holidays (or "observations" in this case) on the calendar (30 plus in all, btw), VALENTINE'S DAY is the biggest hype job of them all. The suits of Madison Avenue have groomed and nurtured this ancient custom into a multi-billion dollar guilt-trip and men (or rather, our wallets) are squarely in their cross hairs. If you want love, acceptance, happiness....well, just give them a little of that hard earned green and all your dreams will come true......
In fact, it is estimated an all-time record $18.9 BILLION will be spent in 2015 to celebrate this so-called holiday. (Here's a kicker for ya.....$700 million on that will be spent on.....pets! LMFAO.......what!!!???.....you effin' kidding me?!! I'm in the wrong business.....!)
BTW, for the benefit of those who aren't sure, here's the genesis of this celebration.....a strange match up of a wild Roman pagan festival called Lupercalin in tandem with the "celebration" of two Catholic saints.....both named Valentine.....executed on February 14th. In the Middle Ages, it became a common practice for lovers to exchange a gift of their affection for one another on this date.
Then.....last century or so ago two business-minded visionaries took it to the next level (Richard Cadbury; mass producer of heart-shaped chocolates and Massachusetts based, Ester Howland, the "mother of the American Valentine", who started producing / selling lacey Valentine cards.) The popularity of these businesses created jobs (plus) fortunes for both entrepreneurs.
Flash forward.....I personally saw Valentine's Day promotional nesting tables set up in the front of several local supermarket chains two days after the New Year's.....wow, Christmas barely in the bag and Bam! here we go again.
Then.....3-plus weeks ago....the email blasts began (Vermont Teddy Bear....ProFlowers "blooms of love".....Russell Stovers....Godiva's...Sherry's Berries.....too many to list).
And then the ads on tv and the radio (I listen to a lot of talk radio; local and national....sports mostly, some political and community, news stations, etc) and the commercials have been non-stop....all day long. Even heard one the other day suggesting "....be unique; lease her a brand new Lexus for Valentine's....." What??? Anyways....these commercials have literally surpassed the "Do you have Low-T?" spots......
There is no other observation / holiday that shames and guilts men into spending on the significant other like this day does. And here's the sad reality......recent polls show over 50% of men spend on their wife, g/f, etc purely out of obligation (so as to not be in the dog house for the next few days) and / or the hopes of "getting some" later that same day. LOL.....whatta farce.
And the flower industry takes big-time advantage of this event as well. Rose prices are never as high during the course of the year as they are 2 - 3 weeks prior to Feb 14th. They simply cost more because people (men, men, men...) are willing to pay....Supply & Demand (some might call it profiteering, I suppose).
Hey....don't get me wrong. I get (and enjoy) Halloween.....and 4th of July....and Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc, etc......but this Valentine's thing just gets under my skin like no other day.
Now St Patick's Day......ahhhhh, now that's a holiday, my friends. Nothing like kicking back with a chilled ale and showing a little respect for your Irish ancestry whether it's there or not.