Valentine’s Day…just another day, right?

Today, it’s Galentine’s Day!   This is the newest trend for women celebrating women!   It’s a relatively new holiday, just a decade old, so there aren’t a lot of established traditions, gifts or cards.  But girls are getting into it!   According to Leslie Knopes, from Parks & Rec, who first invented Galentine's Day almost a decade ago, it is held on February 13, one day before Valentine's Day. It’s a chance for females to get together and celebrate "ovaries before brovaries.”  (loosely translated to celebrating the friendship of your girlfriends on a day…saving Valentine’s Day for the man in your life!)

I happen to celebrate my girlfriends regularly through Martinis & More and soon, Badasses who Brunch.  But it is nice to know that there is a special day for this Girlfriend celebration!

Tomorrow, we’ll all be wearing red or pink…It’s VALENTINE’S DAY!!!   Yay!   Valentine’s Day…the special day for lovers, couples, and often, a lonely day for divorced and widowed.   In all fairness, Valentine’s Day in my married life was a day of sweet notes and cards, occasional flowers and/or jewelry, maybe dinner cooked by Greg, or out to dinner with the masses.   Of course, in our early marriage, there was more attention paid to February 14.  When Katie came along, we made it more of a family thing.   We then started choosing to share our love on Valentine’s Day, promising not to get each other anything.    It was a Hallmark holiday!!

For some reason, last year, once I didn’t have a husband to wish me Happy Valentine’s Day…it became a little more important.  I didn’t know what to do.   Do I just hide out at home?   Do I treat myself to flowers?  Do I pick up some dinner and watch a Hallmark movie?  I had no clue what to do.   Watching Facebook posts about loving husbands and boyfriends definitely stung, but fortunately for me, it was Gala season, so I found myself busy, and working late so I didn’t have to deal with any of it.  Please note:   I don’t want anyone to shy away from sharing their plans with me…I love being a part of my tribe’s love and happiness…don’t ever stop sharing.  

I’m working on this post before Valentine’s Day, trying to decide what I will do on Thursday (tomorrow).  I’m going to get a manicure in the morning before going to work…that will be my treat!   I’m seriously contemplating taking myself out, sit at a bar and enjoy a martini.  I may just go into Firebirds, one of my favorite happy hour places, and treat myself to the Double Black Diamond martini!   Making this public statement is HUGE!   I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but have felt too timid (or afraid!) to do it.   However, since I’ve stepped back a bit from the online dating thing, I’m thinking taking myself out on the biggest “couples” night of the year will provide me with good material for my blog.   Now, there is still time for me to back out, just the fact that I’m posting it and talking about it is making it more real…and not quite as scary as I thought it would be.   You will be the first to know how my night plays out!!   One thing I know for sure…I love you all and I know I’m loved!!!