Roll on V-day
19 January 2006
Just as one red-festooned celebration is over in this country, it’s the next!
I’ve barely paused from nattering on about (my fat cow) Chrissie, and now we’re peering down the calendar at February 14th!
Must say, I’m feeling enormously relieved about this upcoming Valentine’s Day. This is the first V-day in years that I’m not anticipating receiving one of Isa’s daggy cards adorned with a red heart and feel-good deep thoughts on the inside.
It’s only January 19th, but unlike previous years, Isa hasn’t been insisting that within the month we exchange heartfelt meanderings on the meaning of our friendship. In other words, I don’t think she’s going to give me a cheery spiritual-hello card this year.
Now that she’s ensconced in coupledom, as am I, there’s no real need to pen stuff to one another in lieu of the lovey-dovey experience one has in a relationship.
This is a great relief to me because all that mushiness between girlfriends is very hard for an Australian. After all, we tend to be a bit backward in coming forward with the likes of:
♥♥
You’re a caring and dear friend
The best I’ve ever known
How grateful am I
That our paths crossed
It’s been many a year now
That we’ve been friends
Here’s to many more
Filled with warmth and love.
♥♥
Sentimental sharing along lines of the above does not come easily to my fellow countrywomen or me. And there would be culturally specific reasons for that i.e. Australians are not Americans.
Valentine’s day only began to make itself known in Australian stores about the time MacDonald’s established a huge presence. A Big Mac followed by a MacChoccie heart is not good food grouping, though it did catch on.
Hallmark V-cards, now they did not catch on.
Giving a prezzie is much easier than penning schmaltz, anyway. But wait, what will I do if Isa feels compelled to act in response to my V-prezzie with one of her cards?
Grin graciously … I can do that.
