I have to say, my wife Joy is a fan of Valentine’s Day, all holidays for that matter.  She is very thoughtful.  My wife’s superpowers include; she works on average, 60 hours a week; she is actively involved in post graduate education and continuing education; works out 7-10 hours a week; takes great care of our dogs (and me); she never misses a holiday or significant date.

I am not able to keep track of these dates, or holidays.  It isn’t because I want to seem macho, or that I am insensitive to significant dates.  It’s just how I am wired.  I regret it.  I have my own “superpowers.” I won’t list them here, this blog post is about Valentine’s Day, and before I detail why it needs to be ignored, I wanted to thank Joy.  I am lucky to have her.

I am a marketing professional, and respect how Hallmark, FTD, gift shops and human nature has created significant dates, like Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day, etc.  Through their collective marketing endeavors, we are required to treat these days like events similar to Christmas, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, the 4th of July and News Years Eve.  Now, each person we love should be appreciated regularly, and for us to pick a mandatory day is a brilliant marketing play.  These companies have created nationally recognized days that require we plan, shop, modify our schedule, make reservations, and basically conform to their corporate driven agenda.  Brilliant, I am golf clapping because these companies should be proud.

This also creates stress, and expectations that cannot always be met.  Not everyone’s spouse is as understanding as mine.  Some flip out when they are given a stuffed animal on the way to the Old Country Buffet, because they wanted an ankle bracelet, or new tattoo, or God know’s what they expected.  The following news report was taken from the Chicago Sun-Times, and it details what happens when Valentine’s Day goes bad.

A northwest Indiana man was arrested Sunday after calling police to report his girlfriend battered him during a fight over a Valentine’s Day gift.

Indiana State Police found the woman walking on eastbound I-80/94 just east of Ripley Street (Route 51) about 4:12 p.m. Sunday with a fat lip, a scratch below her eye and a fresh bite on her left arm, according to a release from police.

Police learned Deaundre J. Gray, 20, was taking the woman to a buffet restaurant in Michigan City when she told him she didn’t like the Valentine’s Day gift he gave her, a stuffed animal with balloons attached, the release said.

Gray began to hit her, but she defended herself, and in so doing, kicked the front windshield, putting a crack in it. She was also bitten during the attack, the release said.

The woman attempted to call 911 on her cell phone, but Gray broke it in half, the release said. He then stopped his 1999 Oldsmobile Alero in the right lane and pushed the woman out of the car. She picked something up and threw it at the car, putting a dent in the bumper.

Gray went to a gas station at U.S. 20 and Route 249 in Portage, where he called to report being battered. Instead, he was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count each of battery, interfering with reporting a crime and criminal mischief, the release said.

I wanted to post this to help people remember that Valentine’s Day, is only a day.  Please do not go to jail for biting each other before you even get to the Old Country Buffet over a stuffed animal that your Boo may think is to small.  Remember, this is only a Hallmark holiday.  Love each other every day, and keep it civil.

In the immortal words of Jackie Moon, “ELE! Everybody, Love, Everybody!”

Tags: Holidays | Category Business, Family, Internet, Marketing, & Consulting, John's Blog Posts, Marketing & Media, Weird News