Valentine's Day

For the past five years, I have celebrated Valentine's day in a variety of ways, and looking back now, it's almost amusing. In 2007, I wrote an article posted in school, condemning the frivolity of the occasion partially because, I was in a pseudo-zealous mood then, all burning with 'the Fire' and uhm, also because I didn't know what to buy for my girlfriend..(Yes! I admit it now, was a kid then, sue me).
2008's Valentine's day, was blurry. The morning started with me going to class like every normal day. Everybody was in shades of red; I wore blue jeans and a black shirt. I was completely oblivious of the celebration. Somehow, the very knowledge that it was Feb 14 had escaped my mind, and like some Ogre or Grinch, I forgot the day of love. Ironically though, I got gifts from a couple of friends, something that wasn't to happen again for a really long time.
In 2009, it was different, I remembered well ahead of time; I actually organized a Christian Youth program to celebrate the occasion. It was a rainy day, and attendance wasn't really in the hundreds, but after the show, I remember walking home and thinking it was a success. Then, I called my girlfriend(a different one). Suffice to say, I got no gifts that day, not even a kiss or a peck, but then again..*shrugs*
In 2010, a good year, Valentine's day was very simple, and plenty fun. Yours truly was in the after-effects of a nasty break-up, and you can say, I was antagonistic of the very notion of love. In fact if Cupid had dared show his face around me, it would have been a gory sight: blood-spattered burnt wings(extra crispy), naked disemboweled babies, bloody smiling heads on a pike (with the halo stil intact, an arrow piercing through the ears) and so on. Such was my anger. Anyway, I went on a drinking binge with friends(not all male, in fact most were female), and we had some adventures. Till this day, we still remember that night when we sit and tell stories. The experiences drew us closer I guess.*wipes eyes*
In 2011, one of my most memorable years, Valentine's day was different, to say the least. Then, I was working as an IT student in a Brewery(do not ask). As you can imagine, there was going to be a party after work, right there, in the Brewery. So, I got ready, I had nobody to share the day with so I might as well, sit around with co-workers and swig illicit beer. Then, I got a call: would I be available to talk to a couple of teenagers on the issue of Valentine? It was like wafting a sausage under the nose of a mad dog. If there is one thing I love almost as much as writing, it is talking in front of people, "Oh the bliss..". So I accepted, and while the beer was being swigged at work, I was talking to kids. (P.S: never before had my pedophilic urges been so tested, but more on that another day).
This year, 2012, Valentine's day started out boring. I was alone at home, watching cheesy romance movies and flipping through annoying love songs. There I was, curled up on a sofa hugging a pink pillow and watching Richard Gere promise everlasting love, certain that I had reached the lowest of lows, when I received a text. It was from my Pastor, he invited me to a Valentine's day service in church. I have never been so enthusiastic to go to church. It was a sort of dinner, and as I went home, tummy full of 'church food' swimming around in gas and communion wine, I was almost bent double from the effort of keeping my tummy in. It is a miracle I didn't throw up somewhere. The service had been fun, the people more so, now perhaps, it was time to sleep. Then I got home and there was a dinner table set out in the middle of the compound, right there in semi-darkness, muted lights wafting down through the tree branches; dinner for five. There was some food and there was wine. They had been waiting for me, Mum, Ivie, my Uncle and Tati. While we sat and toasted, Mum and my Tati brought out gifts, it was like Christmas again, and I did feel loved.
Then, I called my girlfriend.