February, The Longest Month of the Year??

Okay, so it's been awhile since I've posted. My typical excuses still apply. Busy with work, busy with school, blah blah blah. Anyhoo, I've watched and listened to many of my friends and online cohorts bitch and complain about February and how it's such a depressing time of year. On one hand, I can totally relate and empathize with that assessment, especially for us single folk who equate Valentine's Day with a Venereal Disease (do we NEED to make a Venn Diagram?);however, considering the fact that my birthdate kickstarts this seemingly bitter month, I cannot bring myself to NOT show it some kind of affection. Besides, I'm so frickin' OVER Valentine's Day. Which seems to be the particular primary source of February ire. Oh sure, it's easy to say this as a single person and I'm sure that should I find the good fortune to actually find myself attracted to a woman that digs me right back, I will be the dutiful Valentine's Day celebrating boyfriend (Sweetest's Day is out however; that's just contrived); however, I am of the belief that when you love someone, you shouldn't have to be told or reminded to do something nice or romantic for them. That should come freely and more often than once or twice a year. I think unexpected gifts and demonstrations of affection are so much more impressive and meaningful than, well, I got you this card and these chocolates because it's Valentine's Day and I felt obligated. How did I manage to get stuck on Valentine's Day? Yeesh. I guess the point is that sure, this a typically cold time of the year and sure, it pretty much sucks being single at a time when couples seem to be pretty demonstrative of their coupledom, but rather than succumb to these negative feelings and the depressing grey skies, I choose to try to find the positives around me. Now anyone that knows me can attest to the fact that I am NOT one of those always sunny, saccharinely happy, shiny people whom nothing seems to phase, but I just fear that wallowing in self pity and negativity, for me, could easily become a slippery slope, self-fulfilling prophecies and all. So I've decided to look at February in a positive light. After all, you all were graced with my presence during this month. You gotta admit, it's a cool sounding and interestingly spelled month. It's flexible, what with being the only month to add a day every leap year. It's a sweeps months, so those of us that occasionally get to watch TV are assured that we can actually watch some decent programs, usually free from reruns. See how easy this is? Anyway, I wanted all of my friends who read my blog that I was thinking about them on Valentine's Day, especially my single friends, and although I wasn't posting and in constant communication, I thought about you on that day, because to me, my friends are my significant others right now. One last comment on Valentine's Day though before I go. I can crack on it all I want because I'm single and what have you and sure I DO believe it's better to give gifts and surprises when they are least expected, but Valentine's Day is special and important to (Sweetest Day, not so much) and I found out the other day that my 85 year old grandpa snuck off to the store, when my grandma thought he was going to his daily jaunt down to shoot the breeze with his buddies at the local diner. He came back with a big box of chocolates, a bouquet of red roses and a sweet emotional card that made my grandma tear up but in a good way. It's really nice to know that true love still exists and that it can transcend time the way it has with my grandparents. Now THAT is what I am looking for and I refuse to feel bad about being single for one moment more, because I think that true love is worth holding out for. Thus ends my belated Valentine's Day, Depressing February Blues response. Cheer up everyone, it ain't all THAT bad and March is right around the corner.