Valentine's Day is a marked, socially acceptable celebration of the mating rituals of the human species. People, unlike animals, are generally, and at least superficially, subtle in regard to their pro-creative urges. We use words and kind gestures as opposed to odd-sounding, pathetic calls for attention and the satisfaction of our deep-seated urges. Like it or not, Valentine's Day is here to stay.

In general, I go for deep, meaningful conversations and words of affirmation to "get my strokes". If I only got that on Valentine's Day from someone who wanted to have a lasting relationship with me, I would be hard pressed to stay engaged in terms of affection. If I were a person who needed gifts to keep my love alive, one day a year would not cut it either. What if it was a simple favor that whet the appetites of my desire and that was displayed only on a prescribed occasion? I would begin to suspect that the action was more hormone based than heartfelt. And if I were deeply moved by having someone want to spend a great deal of time with me, one day is only one day, no matter how long it lasts. Valentine's Day, to me, is not as important as the culmination of the rest of the days of the year.

However, Valentine's Day is here to stay, and I am in for a bit of excitement and emotional nurturing on other people's terms. I love going out to eat. When I go out to eat with someone, we usually have conversation and there is often mutual regard shown for the people around the table. Why should I miss out on this on one day of the year just because it was someone else's idea? I don't mind doing things that are someone else's idea. I am a co-operative sort. Take me out to eat or lose me forever!

Do not make it look like it is an obligation, however. Obligation takes all of the romance out of a gesture. Valentine's Day is a party, Sweetheart! You can't just ignore the invitation! You don't need to celebrate the Declaration of Independence on that day! There is another prescribed holiday for doing that! Are you going to give up your bar-b-que and beer just because someone else thought of that one? Are you going to pass up the strawberry shortcake because someone threw that idea in for good measure? It was your parent's idea to give you a birthday. Are you going to pass on the present, cake and ice cream? I don't think so.

You know, if you ever watched the Nature Channel, you would notice that mating rituals are part of the fun. Valentine's Day...be there or be square! What do you have to lose?

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Rogers.
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