February Fifteenth: One Day Too Late

Conor Oberst is 29 years old today. He swears he's born "one day too late for love" — that he isn't deemed to be. In "Happy Birthday to Me (Feb. 15)" it's as if everyone is noticing that one important day — that St. Valentine's commerical holiday — and not him.

It's sort of vain, and sort of emo, but it's sort of true. People become so entombed by the deathly feelings of temporary happiness. There's attention to restaurants, flowers, and chocolates, but I don't know if that really matters. 

I have been to good and bad days of the fourteen, and as I see it, there's only one way to take it. It was founded on spending money. As society loses money, more people are sad. More people are single. And it's an effect. 

It doesn't shock me that some of my friends hit up a club instead of the girl in their history class. Some of them happen to be business majors, but that's just coincidence. See, I think it's common sense. One $30 night in Hollywood to dance uncommitted is definitely cheaper than a $40 night once or twice a week on a stable partner. Albeit the fun is insecure, but what is static in this society besides my crappy T-Mobile cell phone and my soon-to-be-defunct television?

I have issues with Valentines Day. Maybe I'm bitter (like my favorite chocolate) or maybe it's just analysis. Every dollar I've ever spent has made someone happy, and someone has profited. But it's the basis of economy that then dictates happiness. I don't think the arbitrary dollar amount someone has should classify the kind of love they have. 

Should the wealthier man get the prettier girl? In our Americanized Playboy model society, that's how it works. So forget the Lindt & Sprüngli treat, you're supposed to get her the best or else you're bitter like cacao without sugar.

Once I learned about chocolate — that they basically add the 'fake' sweetness of sugar — I felt that giving someone some fancy cocoa byproduct to be "sweet" on a ritualistic day means I am buying into the fakeness.

And fake, yes, it's the way to go. Considering that the St. Valentines Day Massacre was all about elimination and production of fake, bootlegged products, I parallel the same to today's massacre at the markets. A purpose of Valentine's Day is to date and eliminate the competition of other mates. Commit, of course, by proving love. Supply fake products, give tons of chocolate and flowers.

I beg the question: if you love her, if you love him, why not celebrate on February 13? February 15? August 11? December 1? January 2? May 15? The date should be arbitrary, and not about product placement. Someone always gets hurt, but they're always quick on their feet. The foundation, the love, and the pain are all fake anyways.