For people with a recent history of severe romantic disappointment (or not so recent, but they just don't get over ANYTHING), an unsolicited "Happy Valentine's Day!" is about as welcome as, say, a "Happy Hallowe'en" to Jerry Falwell or "Happy Bastille Day" to Marie Antoinette.
An unobtrusive but easily visible black paper heart, worn on the sleeve, should be a commonly understood sign for well-wishers to keep it to themselves if they know what's good for them.
It should also be illegal to say "cheer up" to the black-hearted. However, a gray heart may be worn by those who would reluctantly accept some cheering up.-- hob, Feb 14 2002 http://www.halfbake...20the_20Unpartnered Don't wish me a happy this either. [hob, Feb 14 2002] May you have an uneventful day.-- bristolz, Feb 14 2002 paper hearts attached to the sleeve will tear (if pinned) or mess up a really nice shirt (if glued). How about a simple black ribbon worn on the front of the shirt. Makes for easier visibility too.
bliss, can I get one of those hugs for the relationship impaired?
(Later: thanks Bliss!)-- runforrestrun, Feb 14 2002 Valentine's Day is suppoesed to help you overcome those feelings [hob]. Like [bristolz] I'll wish you an uneventful day; but if you want to guarantee one, stay home huddled under the covers.-- phoenix, Feb 14 2002 Have a beige day. :-|-- RayfordSteele, Feb 14 2002 ¢ø ¯ 1st two knuckles=abbreviated heart.-- reensure, Feb 14 2002 Wahey! Its the annual "Valintine's Day is crap because I am single" idea! Susan is here in spirit...-- mcscotland, Feb 14 2002 [mcscotland] pardon me, I said no such thing... I encourage everyone to have your fun to the fullest, as long as you don't insist on nudging my self-pity by wishing me a happy day. Thus my proposed custom, the BLACK HEART, which seems like a simple and practical way to avoid these discussions.-- hob, Feb 14 2002 I am married with children - it's still crap. ;o}-- arora, Feb 14 2002 If you have a good dog, every day is valentine's day. Heh heh heh.-- Dog Ed, Feb 14 2002 The only thing missing in my gym this evening was a big banner reading 'Depressed Singles Night'.-- -alx, Feb 14 2002 i have a partner, and i still think it's crap, too. crap, crap, crap. I just don't get it. total strangers wished me a happy valentine's day this morning, too, and i had trouble responding in a way that wasn't rude...-- romy, Feb 14 2002 see, what gets me is that this stupid holiday is supposed to be about love. or am I misunderstanding something here? so, if I'm right, then why is the friggin' UPS guy wishing me a happy V day? or my boss, for that matter? seems somehow grotesquely intimate, in a Barbie-Land, Hallmark, plastic pink heart kind of way. my suggestion? don't wish anyone a damn happy V day unless you love them and you're pretty sure they love you, too.-- romy, Feb 14 2002 I tried to convey the impression by wearing red and black (tastefully, not Rocky Horror-style).
Unfortunately, having an uneventful day isn't a good thing either in my case. Conflicting days.-- bookworm, Feb 14 2002 A friend of mine took his wife to the card shop, and picked out a Valentine card. He showed it to her and asked if she liked it. She said she did. He put it back on the rack and said, "okay, that's the one I would have gotten you."
I don't think I wished anyone a _damn_ happy V day, but I did as romy suggested, and only wished it to those I love (and I'm reasonably sure love me. It does happen).
hob, wearing a heart such as this on your sleeve is a good way to ensure you have many more severe romantic disappointments in the future. Fishbone. A real bony one too, like a mackerel.-- waugsqueke, Feb 15 2002 // ... and only wished it to those I love (and I'm reasonably sure love me. It does happen). //
Oh sure . . . now you are really dreaming, waugs.-- bristolz, Feb 15 2002 Yeah. What the hell was I thinking? Must have had too much Chablis last night.-- waugsqueke, Feb 15 2002 //Wahey! Its the annual "Valintine's Day is crap because I am single" idea! //
mcscotland, it's been my experience that those that complain the most about V-Day are angry b/c they have been hurt deeply. I think bliss has the right idea about giving hugs to the relationship impaired. Croissant for that idea!-- runforrestrun, Feb 15 2002 Looks like Cupid's arrows are fatal.-- thumbwax, Feb 15 2002 There is entirely too much emphasis already placed on the status of Valentine's day as a "black" holiday.-- reensure, Feb 15 2002 Watchoo talkin' 'bout Willis?-- thumbwax, Feb 16 2002 random, halfbakery