I still hate Valentine's Day!

Every year, around this time, we are suppose to go out and buy chocolate, flowers and evidently dinner at the nicest restaurant in town - with every other couple in town. I say fuck it! I hate Valentine's Day!

I don't need some artificial holiday to tell me that it is time to remind my husband that I love him. Shouldn't we remind each other every day? I remember when we got married, the minister gave us each a red rose and explained to us that love is patient, love is kind, and all that bs. I'm not very sentimental, am I? The message hidden in this over-done ceremony within a ceremony was that marriage is not always easy. Sometimes marriage is very very difficult. Sometimes you have to work extra hard to be a better person, and to encourage the one you love to ask more of themselves. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and ask for help. You have to admit that you suck at many things in life and are strongest when you are encouraging each other and leaning on your partner in areas where you leave a lot to be desired.

Love is NOT patient. It's certainly not kind. Love can be a very long painful ever-changing process. Love can be wonderful and horrifying all rolled up in to one. But when the one you are with is one who truly does love you, you somehow find a way to get through anything. Interestingly enough, getting through one difficult storm of life, with your loved one, is no guarantee that you will weather the next one. You constantly have to grow, evolve and love each other through all of the changes, highs and lows.

I don't need an artificial holiday once a year to remind me to tell him that he is loved. I'd rather remind him every day.