I recently received an e-mail from Godiva Chocolatier with a subject line that read, “once a year, love is simple.”  Never mind why I’m getting e-mails from Godiva or anyone else; just know that sometimes you can get a really good deal when you sign up.  Back to this particular electronic message; all I could think was, really?  Is love ever simple, and on Valentine’s Day, no less

?On any other given day, problems of the heart can be ignored easily.  On this popular Hallmark holiday, however, break-ups and singles are bombarded with giant pink heart balloons and chocolate roses.  I would think Saint Valentine himself would be made nauseous with the singing cards, tacky teddy bears and general explosion of the colors pink and red. 

(I might add, isn’t the color red about done?  I mean, it gets to represent love, anger or passion, holds two holidays, numerous flags and fruits, and warning signs.  Give green a chance!  Speaking of warning signs, anyone else ever notice that the “Wrong Way” signs on the highways come a little too late in the game to turn around and remedy your mistake?)

Anyway, it isn’t any easier on the coupled folks to get through the day, either.  The guy has to get something or he’s a jerk; if he gets something too cheap or little he didn’t care enough; and if he gets something too extravagant too early in the relationship, then he’s creepy.  No sense in getting the girl a big box of candy that will make her complain about her weight three days later as she eats the last vanilla-nougat-filled chocolate, and does any girl really like those little stuffed gorillas forever forced to hold those little “I Love You” scripted hearts? (Guys, if you already bought the gorilla, keep it.  She’ll love it.)  Girls aren’t off the hook, though.  What to get the guy who is already so lucky to be dating you?

Will he ever wear the silky, kiss-printed boxers?  If he gets the gorilla with the attached heart, will he proudly display it or will it make its way back to his hometown, far, far away from the eyes of any college buddy?  Is it worth paying $7.50 for the 2 x 4 sampler of milk chocolate filled with almonds, unusual fruits and something the poor kid’s bound to have an allergic reaction to because the conversation’s never come around to his rare allergies?  Why in the world is a greeting card $4.50?  How many trees went into this thing, anyway?

What I am saying here is that this day is most definitely not made to be simple, but it can be.  Singles and recently-singles should schedule a night out with their other best friends that happen not to be coupled up.  Don’t take the Bitter Betty/Barry route, because it is more than OK to be single.  You have the rest of your life to be stuck with someone; don’t spend this year’s holiday alone, eating Chinese take-out and watching Lifetime (or re-runs of the Super Bowl — great catch, Tyree).

Couples, you can buy into the holiday without buying all the hype.  A compilation of your significant other’s fave songs mean more than the gorilla, though I kind of want one now that I’ve said so much about said primate.  Probably the fact that you knew their favorite thing in the world is to eat burritos while watching Family Guy is a sign of the relationship actually deserving the term relationship.

Point is, friends, this Valentine’s Day, celebrate everything you do have instead of whatever it is you don’t.  Don’t let the fact that you didn’t get that jewelry set you were hinting at get in the way of a genuine gift, and don’t let anyone else’s annoying bouquet of roses rain on the fact that you can have a night out with your best friends without having to call anyone and let them know when you’ll be home.

Chenee Castruita is a junior journalism major. Send her an e-mail at cc282705@ohiou.edu.