I despise Valentine's Day, and yet I end up celebrating it: The rampant commercialism works.
We're bombarded with commercials, e-mails and fliers, all sharing the best way to show our love. I noticed that a pizza franchise is even getting in on the act -- selling heart-shaped pizza for a limited time.
Katrina Birrell, 33, of Patterson Park agrees with me -- at least on the heart-day hate. "I'm a little bitter and twisted when I'm not with someone," she says. "I like [Valentine's Day] in theory. I like the thought of having a special day and doing something romantic." But the reality often doesn't match up, she adds.
However, it appears we're in the minority.
Shane White, 35, of Columbia is looking forward to the day.
"I'm hoping my husband comes through," she says. "With the flowers to the office and everything. Yes, delivered, with the teddy bear and balloons. I want to go all out."
This will be her second Valentine's with her husband, and she's looking for a better one than the last, when she received the usual candy and flowers but was expecting a getaway of some kind. This year, she left hints with notes and brochures.
"I had the arrow this year, directing him," she says, laughing. "Go right, man. Go right."
Gaby Hess of Pikesville says that if she were coupled up, she would expect the whole shebang -- the flowers, the dinner, the box of chocolates. Hess, 34, says she respects the opinion of those who don't love the holiday, but to be with her, you've got to fake it to make it. Recognize that it's a big deal to her.
But even still, Hess says that she had the best Valentine's days when she was single -- like the year in college when her friends sent her candygrams and her parents sent flowers.
"When I'm with someone, it's never what I expect it to be," she says. "It's less of an expectation when I'm single."
Anthony Weldon, 27, has celebrated only two Valentine's days with a significant other. The Towson resident says they didn't really exchange gifts, but he did buy his girlfriend a watch once (which kind of sounds like she didn't exchange gifts).
Nonetheless, the Valentine's Day burden often falls on the guys, he says, whether the cause is external or internal.
"I think that we probably think that people expect us to give gifts," he says slowly and diplomatically with a bit of a laugh. "Although our significant others may not even care."
