Forgetting what Feb. 14 entails

By Katie Powers

Let's see. Is there something I needed to do today?

Hmm. I thought there was maybe some special event going on, but now I can't remember.

Wake up. Thursday. Go to class. Always late because it's at 9:55, but it should really start at 10. Soviet history, love that. Good thing Stalin can get my mind off this weird feeling in the back of my head.

Class is over. What am I forgetting?

Do-do-do-do-do. Walking to Malley.

Ew, there are a lot of people holding hands today. Weird.

I feel like I had something planned for tonight?

Date? No. Not that.

The Claran karaoke?

Study group? No.

Lame scavenger hunt that leads to "cute special surprise?"

I don't think it was that.

I'll check my Facebook. Maybe someone left me a message asking me to do something tonight.

Do I have anything under my event list? No.

Check my relationship status. Nope. I'm still single.

I think I want some chocolate. That will make me feel better.

Starting to feel really alone.

Wait, I hear something! My roommates are home!

We had dinner planned for tonight? That's right.

Multi-person platonic date for Thai food. Duh, that's what I was forgetting. Special friends, celebrating something special.

But what was so special and why are we going out to eat?

What?

Oh.

It's Valentine's Day.

Gross.

I mean, I love wearing red and white and pink (because they clash and look great together), but the concern for finding a Valentine always gets me down.

Call it love, call it Hallmark, but really, everyone's main objective for the night is to have a Valentine's date and then get it on to Marvin Gaye or whatever.

If you have a special someone, or even a pending special someone, you have it covered. But if not, today leads to anticipation of one that you will probably never meet.

As much as I like to hope that one of my crushes will give me flowers (or maybe something more timeless, like a mix tape, or edible, like chocolate), the odds of someone actually declaring unexpected love for me on this day are slim. Why face rejection on the already most over-hyped day of the year?

On a normal day, such lofty romance would never be anticipated, but tonight, you can't help but hoping for something unrealistic.

Instead, I will cherish my time with my beloved friends by eating as much Thai food as possible.

But it's not like I'm bitter.