February is coming.

This time of year is always a little perplexing for us girls to figure out.

Everyone has their own ideas of the day and how others will feel about it. But here’s how it really plays out when February first rolls around:

Married couples: “Whoa. Valentine’s Day is this month. Huh. Gotta get some flowers or a babysitter and some reservations or something. “

Couples in the throes of passion: “Valentine’s Day! Yay! We’re going to have a wonderful night and it’s going to be romantic and passionate and fabulous and there will be love and specialness and wonderful feelings. Swoon.”

Others: “Huh. Valentine’s Day is coming. Huh.” Not really filled with cynicism per say, just…just trying to figure it out.

So many can fit into that last category. Those of us that are single. Those that are not in a marriage that is particularly love-ly. Those girls that have been dating for years and are simply waiting for him to put a ring on it. And waiting. (Been there. Waited for that.)

Every year, my parents send me flowers to school. The first couple of years, the AP would bring the vase down to me because she wanted the scoop on who was sending my flowers. She left shortly after she realized it was my dad. Then she just quit coming altogether, and one of the secretaries called my office and told me to come get them when I had a chance.

Don’t get me wrong… I appreciate flowers, but as a single girl, I’d almost rather just have any other ordinary day.

See, while it’s typically ranted by bitter singles or boyfriends that are not that creative in the romanticalness category, it’s true that Valentine’s Day is a manufactured day for commercial gain most of the time.  A manufactured day about passionate, romantic love.

Yes, there are exceptions. That boy that just can’t get up the courage to tell the girl he loves her. (Because he exists in a romantic comedy)That couple that’s been out of love for a while and is trying to find their way back. But those are the exceptions.

The reality of it is that most single girls just want to spend the day as normally as possible. Valentine’s Day is not a day to tell someone you love them in that “I’m so glad I have a friend like you in my life” kind of way. It’s a day that’s designed to spark romantical, passionate love.

And while I know a lot of people want me to not be sad on that day and to know that the love me and are so glad they have a friend like me in their lives, I know that already. We wouldn’t be friends if I didn’t think you appreciated me being in your life.

What people don’t realize is that when they go out of their way to do something special for you on Valentine’s Day because you don’t have anyone romantical, they’re actually bringing light to the fact that you don’t have someone romantical.

This is not something based out of bitterness, or even self-preservation. It’s just how I live my life from day to day as a single person.  It’s how I keep from getting all weepy, and it’s most certainly how I keep from agreeing to communicate with that guy on eHarmony who writes in all caps with no traces of punctuation.  (Which, by the way, has ramped up significantly by the men who are now realizing OMG VALENTINES DAY IS COMING AND I DONT HAVE A DATE)

So, February is coming in a few days. And for me, everything will be business as usual. And I couldn’t be happier about it.

P.S. If you’re my secret admirer from last year, please do me a favor and let me know who you are this year.  If you did it just as a joke, please leave me alone. I’m not someone to be trifled with in that way.