I Hate Roses

Well... I don't really hate them - I'm just not that fond of them.
Most of the time the florists don't even remove the thorns anymore.
I can't think of a more hackneyed Valentine's gift.

My preference is for Gladiolas or Cala Lillies.

Every Valentine's day I make my run to deliver an inexpensive box of chocolates and a bouquet of Cala lillies or Gladiolas to the many women in my life.
No, not the women I "do" - but to aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends.
I'm not at all romantic, I just like to give women flowers and candy.

Once, while stuck in Honolulu over Christmas break - I gave roses to the hookers on Kalakaua on Christmas Eve wishing them each a "Mele Kalikmaka".
"Have a date?", was their reply.
"No, thank you.", was mine.
Every weekend after that, the women would come by and talk to me and thank me for my nice thoughts.
It was at this early age that I discovered the power of an unexpected flower.

As I've gotten older - Valentines Day has more to do with habit than it does with any form of romance.
Relationships have become more about a business merger than anything to do with romance.
I remember liking a girl because I liked the way she smelled.
Or smiled, or I liked her hair, or maybe even just her voice.
These days - most women are too easy.
There isn't even a need to court a girl anymore.
Most women don't even know how to wait for a guy to open a door, or have a guy take their arm while walking up a flight if stairs, or even receive a compliment without thinking that a guy wants something from them.

I'm really not all that cynical concerning Valentine's Day - all my women seemed to enjoy their candy and flowers.
But I think what they enjoyed the most was that someone thought of them.