A Happy Valentine's Day Without the 'Happy' Omitted For Once

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I would usually say that with a negative tone that would make a Hallmark card shrivel up and burst into flames on its own, but today I can truly say that it was a fairly happy occasion. There are a few couples here (some that were formed beforehand, some that have resulted because of our close quarters) and I pictured this day as a tribute to them. Snuggling by the fireplace. Whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. (I've always found this phrase interesting. I, amazingly enough, always get sweet NOTHING whispered in my ear on this special day!)

Why was this day so special you ask? The boys here at HUG got together along with our faculty advisor Mr. Griffith and composed a little song for all the girls. They sang, in beautiful harmony, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." At the end, most of them got down on one knee and ended in a Frank Sinatra-like "I'm in love with you!" They had each picked a girl and gave us a rose! How sweet is that! Granted, I know that they are not in love with me and I know that Mr. Griff probably gave them a speech about being gentleman, but it is the first time in my WHOLE life that I have ever been romanced by 20+ college boys. Ok. Rewind. That is the first time in my life I have ever been sang to at all.

All the girls made Valentine cards for the boys last night. In true elementary school fashion, we cut out hearts and glued them to construction paper. Bethany wrote a cute little poem and we wrote it in our best handwriting on the paper hearts. Some of the girls who didn't have early classes baked a marble cake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles for all of us to share today at lunch. Cake+boys singing+Valentine cards=Greatest V-day ever!

We also went to the mall today. It was fun to browse and shop, but I have noticed two things about European fashion. It is expensive. And it is for women who prefer to wear baby doll clothes. When you have to call in the rescue squad and the jaws of life to tear a large shirt from your body, it is time for a European Union fashion awareness meeting. "Ashton," you may say, "perhaps you have eaten too much Greek bread and too much marble cake." Though you are entirely correct in your assumptions, I was not the only one groaning in the dressing room. I did, however, manage to buy a zip-up gray sweater to mix and match with things I already have, some underwear (the mysterious laundry bandit is at it again!) and some sunglasses for the next few trips we go on. A few of us girls went to eat at Ruby Tuesday's to celebrate single awareness day. It was kind of expensive, but it's not something we can do all the time.

I hope that you were blessed with a good Valentine's Day. Whether you have a sweetheart or not, use this day. Eat chocolate. Lots of it. Splurge a little and blame it on the holiday. Look over at lovey-dovey couples and laugh--really hard. It's therapeutic, I promise.

All my love to you on this day!