A Dogged Valentine

"Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love." -Shakespeare, As You Like It

I really hate Valentine's Day. More than any other fake holiday, created strictly to sell stuff, this one works my last nerve. That's because in addition to the fact that I'm probably the least romantic person you can imagine, it seems the teenaged, hormone-sodden, delirious state of being "in love" has become the gold standard of adult love, too. And all I can say to that is, you couldn't get me to be "in love" like that again for ten million dollars.

The thing is, I ran this sentiment past my mom once, and she rolled her eyes and informed me that she had no problem imagining me "googy eyed and breathless," because she could count a number of times she'd seen me that way, like just about every time I got a new dog.

Yeah, mom, you got me. When it comes to my dogs, I do all the things I neither do for my fellow humans nor enjoy when they are done for me: Sweet little gifts, baby talk and kisses, dressing them up special for holiday pictures ... although I do draw the line at putting actual clothing on my dogs. I stick with fancy collars and the occasional antler hat.

So yeah, there might be some heart-shaped dog cookies on the shopping list this week, but flowers and candy? Not hardly.

Comments

[gina]

Clearly, you belong to the "cult of the dog," as one of my readers said of me this weekend. See, I said in a column that dogs offer "nonjudgmental love," and the reader felt compelled to point out that animals are just instinct-driven machines driven only by a need for food. That "love" was only possible "with God" or with "God's creation, Man."

Phooey. I wish the wingnuts would leave me alone. With my dogs, of course. Who do love me!

[Travis]

Well, I'm much less of a hopeless romantic than I used to be. However, I do like to send roses for Valentine's Day (or other occasions, too). However, that googly eyed stuff doesn't do much for me either these days. I'd much rather cook a nice dinner and cuddle on the couch and watch a good movie.

Travis

[Christie Keith]

I'd much rather cook a nice dinner and cuddle on the couch and watch a good movie.

Travis, you are SUCH a dyke.

[Christie Keith]

the reader felt compelled to point out that animals are just instinct-driven machines driven only by a need for food

Good thing I got those heart shaped dog cookies.

[Travis]

Shhhh, don't tell my parents. They're just getting used to me being a gay man. ;)

Travis

[Christie Keith]

Shhhh, don't tell my parents.

OR your boyfriend.

[Leigh-Ann]

I used to be all about Valentine's Day and grandiose displays of affection when I thought I was straight. Since coming out (oh, about 15 years ago), I haven't felt hyped about about the "romance" holidays. I love my partner of 8 and a half years every day, and I don't need a specific day to do something special about it. We're all about the sofa, too :)

[Travis]

Definitely don't tell the boyfriend. LOL.

Travis

[kim]

This year the bf and I decided that we would give up Valentines Day for good. After a few years, if you need a box of chocolates or a $75 bouquet of roses on a commercial "holiday" to know that your S.O. really cares about you... you need to move on.

As for the dogs, heart-shaped cookies abound. But so do the doggy clothes. What can I say, they can pull of corduroy better than I can. ;O)

[KathyF]

My dog was the only one who kissed me this Valentines. (She really wanted to give me a box of chocolate, but the Waitrose guy wouldn't sell her one, or so she says.)

As for the rest of my loved ones, my husband was in Moscow, where apparently they have no means of communication. My daughter was her usual non-verbal self. And my "friend" was complaining about people who turn their pets into children!!