Hearts, Flowers and Shades

For some reason it does not appear to me that Valentine’s Day has been as hyped this year as in the past.

Maybe that’s because all I seem to see on TV these days is commercials for “50 Shades of Grey” and “The Slap” which by the way I did watch last night and thought it was okay but not great. As for “50 Shades of Grey” the early reviews are just so-so and while the movie comes out on the ultimate couples weekend it’s one that women are expected to see with friends and not their partner. There are 8 showings today at the Marquee Cinema in Toms River and I’m wondering how many men will fill the seats. I won’t be one of them.

Back to Valentine’s Day which I’ve summed up by saying is a poor excuse for a holiday celebrated by some, despised by others and ignored by plenty. While history tells us it dates back to the 5th century and is named for a Christian martyr we know it’s a creation of florists, jewelers, candy makers and those nice people at Hallmark Cards who have even created a TV channel that shows really sappy movies featuring actors whose careers have fizzled.

This so-called holiday will find nearly150 million cards exchanged which makes this the second biggest card-giving occasion behind only Christmas and that’s not counting e-cards. Flower sales will account for nearly $2 billion and some florists will tell you Valentine’s Day is equal to an entire month’s worth of business. About 110 million roses, mostly red will be sold and delivered followed by pink, white and lavender (yellow are my favorite).

Another big item is jewelry which gets an added boost because many couples will get engaged this weekend. Many will also break up. Valentine’s Day is also big for area restaurants although the holiday falling on a Saturday is a bit of a downer because that’s the best night of the week anyway.

What is frustrating for many is coming up with the right gift, whether in a new relationship or married for say 33 years. Hearts can be broken when one person buys a gift that is geared for more of a friend and the other buys one that shows love. That’s why there is often so much pressure to come up with the right gift.

I certainly don’t have the answer for that but I can tell you the wrong one. That’s
when you get the last card on the rack and combine it with a single rose from a convenience store and a cheap box of chocolates. The result is you’ll find out that the hard way the Valentine’s Day Massacre did not take place in 1929 in Chicago.