Friday, February 15, 2008

St. Valentine’s Curse

There’s a strange phenomenon that occurs in the lives of single women the week before Valentine’s Day. Their phones stop ringing. Completely stop. Not a peep from anyone of the male species. Apparently there was one girl out there that gave us all a bad rep by becoming overly affectionate one fateful Valentine’s Day, and every man since then has passed down the urban legend that if you have any contact whatsoever with a woman on Valentine’s Day, she will stalk you until there’s a four carat, emerald cut diamond sparkling on her left ring finger.

Or so it would seem.

Not one measly phone call have I received. Since Monday!

Remember cute Personal Trainer Guy? Nothing. Mr. Wonderful? Silent. Even a guy I met for coffee this past week (whom I will be blogging about in depth in the future!) didn’t have the cajones to text a simple little “Happy Vday” to me.

Now, I might think this is just coincidence. That maybe things were just fizzling out with Mr. Wonderful, that maybe the romance in the air made Personal Trainer Guy realize we just weren’t a good match after all. But, this isn’t the first time I’ve experienced St. Valentine’s curse.

Last year I’d been seeing two different eligible bachelors for a couple months each when Valentine’s Day rolled around. I awoke hopeful, sure that by noon I’d have at least one offer of dinner and a movie for the evening.

Hopes that soared even higher when, as I poured my morning coffee, I saw a flower delivery truck pull up. I raced downstairs, opened the front door… and saw the delivery guy walk up to my neighbor’s front door. Okay, so maybe expecting roses was a little much at this point. Things were still new with both guys. No exclusive relationship yet, probably too early to look for roses. Fine, no biggie.

Instead, I took my coffee upstairs and got to work writing (making sure that my phone was on and within arm’s reach). So deep into Maddie’s latest adventure was I that it wasn’t until I broke for lunch when I realized I still hadn’t received any calls. A little worrisome. But, I didn’t give up hope. It was still early… ish.

Around three that afternoon the mailman drove up in his little truck and I watched from my window as he slipped a bright red envelop into my mailbox. Red on a day like today could only mean one thing! Doing a little squee of delight, I again raced downstairs to see which of my suitors had sent me a card.

Neither. It was from my step-mother. Sigh.

By dinnertime it became readily apparent that I was not being wined and dined that night. But, I still had hopes that at least one of my potential Mr. Rights would call before the night was over to wish me a Happy Valentine’s Day. Surely they would at least do that, right?

So, as I watched “A Charlie Brown Valentine” I also watched my silent phone like a hawk. And watched. And watched. By the time I’d finished off an entire box of heart shaped chocolates and the very un-Valentiney movie “Love Stinks”, it became clear that I was not going to be wished a Happy Valentine’s Day. Secretly hoping they both choked on candied sweethearts, I went to bed.

Sad, yes. But, it gets better.

The next day, after I’d drawn little devil horns and blacked out teeth on both their pictures, my phone rings. It’s Guy Number One. Thinking he’s got an awful lot of nerve calling now after the stony silence yesterday, I pick up with a chilly, “What?”

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he says.

“Day late and a dollar short, pal.”

He’s quiet. Then, “What do you mean?”

“Valentine’s Day was yesterday.”

More silence. Then, “Really? Are you sure it’s not today?”

Mental forehead smack.

Please tell me some of you out there had better Valentine’s Days this year?

~Trigger Happy Halliday

29 comments:

Dru said...

At least you got a card even if from step-mom. Did potential #2 call that day as well?

Wendy said...

My VDay was very uneventful. I went to class, came home..and that's about it. I got two wee gift bags from my Instructor and a classmate - mostly consisting of chocolate and also, a few Happy Valentine's Day texts. Apart from that, it was a normal day.

Happy St. Skeleton's Day!

Kathy Bacus said...

Wendy and I had the same kind of V Day--sorta. The only thing I received from my instructor was getting out of class late.

Valentine's Day? Bah humbug!

~Bullet Hole who plans to go raid the store shelves of marked down VD candy herself~

Anonymous said...

Actually mine was pretty good. I don't usually buy into all the hype and I don't expect my hubby to do it either but this year I did. I found out he got me a gift (he never does) so that put me in a panic becuase I had to have one for him too. So off the See's Candies I went to buy a 2lb box of nuts & chews. If you know me you know that I don't like malls. In fact I hate hate hate them. To further my torture I took my 5yr old with me. The line was ridiculous and my son ran out into the mall twice causing me to throw down the chocolates, leave the line in a panic and chase him down. (Thank you nice man in line behind me!) I finally got my chocolates and then in a further moment of insanity I decide to take my son to lunch in the food court. Sushi for me Mickey D's for him but by then I'm so tense and panicky that I can't eat, so I force him to eat his lunch in the car as I'm squealing tires out of the mall parking structure.
Any way, hubby gave me a pearl ring (I know and he's gorgeous too), he loved his chocolates and I got extra points for going to the mall.

Barrie said...

Oh my! That is hilarious! I hope he's not a day late for other important dates too--like Christmas, your birthday, Halloween....!! :)

Christie Craig said...

Great post Gemma.

Hmm...makes me appreciate my hubby. He burps when he's not supposed to, he might snore, he cuts holes in carpet, can't plumb worth a damn, and makes holes in the sheetrock, but he brought me roses the day before Valentine's Day, kissed me cheek, and said, "What's for dinner?"

Okay...he's not perfect, but I give him points for trying.

Gemma Halliday said...

Dru - Oh sure, #2 called me three days later pretending the whole Valentine's Day thing never happened. Needless to say, I didn't pick up. There are plenty of frogs in the pond, on to the next one...

~Gemma

Gemma Halliday said...

I'm with you, Bullet Hole! This holiday is all about the chocolate. 50% chocolate - even better!

~Gemma

Gemma Halliday said...

Beth - so glad you made it out alive! Lol! I LOVE the mall, but with a 5 year old? That's enough to make even me want to leave.

But the hubby sounds like a keeper.
(Does he have a brother??)

~Gemma

Terri Osburn said...

This sort of happened to me. I just a few days ago started exchanging emails with a new dude. One a day for now. But like clockwork. Then yesterday - nothing.

They really do think we're going to jump them or something, don't they?

That day late thing is pretty funny. I probably would have laughed about it and kept seeing him. LOL!

Keri Ford said...

Oh, Gemma, you must give the poor fellow points! Think of how much power you hold over him now!! Why this weekend you could be all, "You know, I'd really like to (insert whatever) this weekend."

If he's into you he should agree without hesitation for forgetting Valentines. Course this is assuming he didn't pull a 'I got mixed up' line to avoid VD.

Milk that guilt!!!

Keri Ford said...

Christie, we are living similar lives in seperate places! The hubby brought me flowers with a kiss and wanted to know if I'd washed him any underwear! Ahhh...the romance.

Wendy said...

Kathy, she let us go one hour early! *g*

Anonymous said...

Gemma- Sorry he has two sisters, no brother and you're not the first one to ask!

Anonymous said...

I boycotted Valentine's Day. Except for the chocolate my parents gave me. Not gonna turn that down. *g*

Estella said...

My Vday was really good. My dh ususlly gets me a card. Yesterday he got me 3 potted begonias.

danetteb said...

Lol, I spit some soda, thanks Gemma. At least you got a call after the fact. My husband sent me a text message. I did go and buy a cute wallet to match my favorite purse, when he sees it I'll tell him thank you for my V-Day gift.:D

I made gift packages for my girls though and seeind their faces brighten,made my day.

Hugs,Danette

Angie Fox said...

Great post.

My husband did well this year - he got me a dead body or two. We have tickets to a murder mystery dinner play this Saturday. Never mind that I gave him the newspaper with the dinner theatre advertisement circled. :)

Wine and murder...isn't it romantic?

Kathy Bacus said...

Rub it in there, would you, Wendy? Or should I say 'teacher's pet'?

That's one sweet Valentine's Day gift, Angie! I bet you're glad you thought of it!!

;)

~Bullet Hole~

Gemma Halliday said...

Danette - I love that! Lol! Be sure to tell him what excellent taste he has. ;)

~Gemma

Gemma Halliday said...

Keri - Yeah, I just wasn't sure how dull someone has to be to not notice it's Valentine's day. And wasn't that a bad sign of things to come? Lol!

Now, if he had shown up on my doorstep with flowers and candy a day late... we might be talking then.

~Gemma

Gemma Halliday said...

Terrio - See? It's true isn't it?! It's not just me. Guys freak out on V-day. What is up with that?

~Gemma

Gemma Halliday said...

Angie - Oh, I went to one of those for my birthday last year. So fun! I got so engrossed I kinda forgot to eat. Lol!

~Gemma

catslady said...

My husband gave me his flu bug :{

Shel said...

Gemma -
I got a text message, only it was about the shooting at NIU yesterday. No mention of v-day.

Lots of v-day wishes from my boys though (all just friends), but still, it counts, right?

Happy Valentine's Day! (I'm a day late, but I know it)

P.S. Alibi is already available on both amazon and barnesandnoble.com. I ordered my copy on Wednesday! I cannot wait to read it!!!!

Rhonda Helms said...

OMG what a crazy day...((hugs)) you know WE love you!!!

Gemma Halliday said...

Shel - Yay! Oh let me know how you like it! :)

~Gemma

Gemma Halliday said...

Thanks, Rhonda! I lubs you all too! If it weren't for my girlfriends, who knows what a basket case I'd be.

~Gemma

Jenyfer Matthews said...

You know I have to play devil's advocate. If you're in a new relationship, Valentine's day is a real emotional minefield. Some of these guys might really be commitment-phobes but some might just be trying to avoid giving the wrong impression.

And some men are just clueless of course.

A while back, my single BIL had been dating a woman that he wasn't remarkable serious about for a few months - but by all he'd told me about her, she was definitely pushing for more. What does he do? He buys her a diamond pendant and gives it to her on Valentine's day - against my advice. What else is she supposed to think if he gives her a diamond on the big day?? She thought what I expected she would and then he was all *surprised* when she practically started setting the date. Needless to say things got messy and went downhill in a hurry.

I say spare yourself the agony and buy your own Valentine. You'll never be disappointed and you'll always get what you want. My hubby bought me chocs and I bought myself shoes :)