91Èȱ¬

Love. There are many forms of love and there are many ways to express it. There’s the love from a friend to a friend, a dog to his master, even from a man to a football team.

Most commonly and romantically there is the love between a man and a woman for each other. And how is this love expressed? Oh, let me count the ways!

Well, for a start it isn't expressed specifically on one day, but on all the other days of the year as well as 14 February.

We seem to forget about the fact that all relationships and love is celebrated on anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, and (in case they had forgotten) at weddings.

What makes this one day so much more special than a wedding anniversary? Is it because we are forced by consumerism to buy a card? It seems that if we don't it looks as though we don't care.

Sleepless Nights

Men have sleepless nights, take days off work, get high blood pressure, take medication because there's that horrible thought nagging at the back of their minds saying "Remember Valentine's Day, remember Valentine' Day."

They have to spend many hours lying there thinking of something that would make a difference. They know they've got to do something special, but what?

They rack their brains, pull their hair out (if they've got any left!) relentlessly worrying about it.

In the end all turns out well, usually. How it does is a mystery. Valentine proves his worthiness as a saint! Of course there's a big 'but' coming here.

Why A Card?

Why does it have to be shown with a card?

Cards are bought for birthdays or when someone is going through bad times, maybe even for Christmas. But is this how someone expresses love for their partner, by just buying a card?

It's just a piece of card and yet apparently it means EVERYTHING. Somehow though, you can never find one that is actually meaningful or won't make your partner vomit in your face!

It's either got a teddy bear on it, and you don't want to make things too cuddly-wuddly!

Perhaps there is some lousy poem on the inside: firstly that looks as though you haven't made the effort and secondly it's a really bad poem.

Otherwise the card you're looking at is just crass or lame.

More Than A Card

Maybe I'm being cynical but surely Valentine's is about more than just a card, its about making that special effort to show someone you love them dearly.

I'm not expecting to be giving or receiving any Valentine's cards, I do expect – hope – to be celebrating it - not bloody likely after this rant!

Valentine’s Day has gone the same way as Christmas, it has been hijacked to supply the paper market.

Saint Valentine used to be the patron saint of lovers, now he seems to be the patron saint of card makers.

NB - When Edward wrote this article he wasn't in a relationship - maybe his views have changed since!