Being a Valentine 4-Ever

@postaday 42; #postaday2011

In the movie “When Harry Met Sally,” there is a line Carrie Fisher says that really rings true for me. I say it under my breath sometimes:  “Tell me I’ll never be out there again.”

I love romance, it’s nice to fall into step during a courtship, and I will probably always be a hopeless flirt, but I know how fortunate I am to not be out there. Bar hopping and trolling for guys had little appeal for me. I’d meet more guys while surfing at dawn patrol than at closing time, anyway!

So here we are at the annual holiday that celebrates love. Marrieds learn they can get by with less each year. Singles attend anti-Valentine Day Tweetups. But the most vulnerable for this holiday are the single, sort-of-exclusively seeing each other set. Hearts are every where. Roses. Champagne. Chocolates. Reservations. Prophylactics. Little stuffed teddy bears. I should think it all gets pretty expensive, what with being something like Prom Night on steroids.

Tell me I don’t ever have to be out there again!

Even before we were married, we started some traditions for Valentine’s Day. Simply put, it’s dinner and a movie. The aforementioned “When Harry Met Sally,” which not only focuses on the stars, but shows these vignettes of old couples talking about being in love or how they met or other fun silly stuff. Dinner is Salade Niçoise. The dessert is almost always chocolate, strawberries, perhaps some cheesecake. Always champagne!

But now that we’re working parents, these domestic dates don’t last too long. Before 9 p.m. we’re eager to tuck in the kids and get to bed ourselves.

Anyway. Good luck out there  to those of you looking for a friend for life, someone who will protect your heart forever. And when you do, really make a commitment. The people you marry are worth the happily ever after effort.