But this year, 4th of Febuary comes along, and clearing out my papers, I stumbled upon a poem, a BEAUTIFUL poem about the true meaning of friendship, that a friend had copied out for me 5 years ago. I'd forgotten about that! I found myself smiling as I read said poem, and weirder still I found my hand reaching for the telephone, as if automatically, and dialling the number of ANOTHER friend. "What the hell am I doing? I thought as I proceeded to recite the poem onto her answer phone machine. "It's February.This is wrong." At the last syllable, I put the phone down in disbelief. The ice had started to melt.
Then today, I had builders round, dust flying everywhere, noise the lot. I couldn't write, so I decided to go the park across the road which is something I never do. But it was cold, so first I went to the unromantic local greasey spoon and ordered a takeaway tea. All was well. But as the tea lady handed me my tea on its card board tray - I was OFFENDED! "There you go!" She dazzled. "And there's some chocolate hearts there for Valentine's Day we're giving them to all our customers.-Happy Valentine!" I couldn't believe it - this was a greasey spoon! I'd asked for a cup of tea, not a marriage proposal! I wanted to politely tell her where she could shove her commercial tokens of meaningless affection, but as I looked down at the chocolate hearts -and looked up at her face beaming back at me - that warm feeling came over me again -and I just couldn't!
Finally I'm in the park - no loved up commercial crap could bother me here. Let the sulking begin. But before I could sulk, I noticed how the birdsong was unusually clear and annoyingly beautiful as it filled my eardrums. In panic I turned around to see the tallest man, with a scary face, a skin head, and a big dog walking towards me, commenting on 'what a beautiful day it was' and 'didn't the birdsong sound extraordinary?' I wanted to cry out: "Shouldn't you be mugging me or something? What's wrong with you?" What's wrong with the world?"
But before I could reply the HUGE labrador dog ran over and started licking my hands and put his paw on my lap! And at that moment - the cynic died. The ice thawed. Puppy love.
So this year, despite a life time of reservations - I have to say - I AM even grateful for Valentines celebrations - I suppose. ;-)
written and posted by Nadia O'Connell
