woe mance

[eor]

derien was telling a story about a diamond bracelet the other night. No this wasn't a subtle hint. If I gave her a diamond bracelet I would be looked at as if I had the mental capacity of a lobotomized golden retriever, sweet but utterly stupid. derien generally doesn't do jewelry. On the rare occasion she will think of wearing one bit of jewelry it is something basic: the Chinese coin on the leather string, the polished brown stone on a string. If she were to get something of value it would most likely be jade or emerald. Among jewelry, diamond just isn't it.

But really jewelry isn't it, she's way too practical. If she can't eat it, if it doesn't keep her warm, if it doesn't have some inherent usefulness about it, she probably won't have any use for it. For that reason, among others, she doesn't really give a rat's ass about most of the Feb. 14th pitch.

This works out well because I am a pigheaded ass. (Talk about your mixed species!) I like giving gifts. I enjoy expressing my affection at random times and in random ways. Aye, there's the rub! I feel any demonstration of affection of the 14th day of the second month is choreographed, coerced, contrived, consumerist crap. Even if I suddenly think, "Oh, I haven't bought any flowers for derien in a while," on or about that date, I'll suppress the urge. I won't play if it's what is expected. I don't do the ritual of Feb. 14th. There are other reasons I don't follow the masses on this one as well, but pigheadedness is right up there.

Having one day a year to celebrate your One True Love, that's silly. If you love so few or so little that you can fit it into one day, you can have Feb. 14th. I'll take all the other days of the year. I hope the people I love realize how much I care even without getting a Hallmark(tm) on one specific day in midwinter.