A Valentine from a Coyote Girl.: seanan

A Valentine from a Coyote Girl.

Every year, I see heartfelt denials of Valentine's Day, calling it the worst day in the world to be single, a "Hallmark holiday," and a crass excuse for commercialized pink. And I admit, I've had some bad Valentine's Days. Most of them happened in high school, when people were no longer required to make sure they brought a sufficient number of little paper hearts for the entire class. It hurt like hell to see the popular kids walking around with sacks bulging with tokens of their admirers' affections, while I was lucky if I got a single card. It sucked. I don't even mean "it sucked to be single," because I wasn't always; I just had a tendency to date outside my high school, which meant that I was, for all intents and purposes, the person saying "I wish you could meet my girlfriend, but you can't, because she lives in Canada."

Every year, I see heartfelt praise of Valentine's Day, calling it the one day when it's still okay to be a blatant romantic, the day where you can wear your heart on your sleeve and no one will call you an idiot. I've had a few Valentine's Days like that, too. Seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Miriam during a special Valentine showing—and "seeing" is a very generous word for what we did, because really, we spent the entire damn movie sitting in the back of the theater making out and giggling. And that was what we wanted. Stretching out on a bench at the pizza parlor with my head in Tom's lap, smelling hot tomato sauce and stale corn chips and warm denim, which was, for years, the most romantic perfume I could possibly imagine. He told me he loved me on Valentine's Day. We didn't exchange gifts or even cards, but who needed them? Not me, not that night.

Every year, I watch the various establishments that sell "romance" attempt to convince people that Valentine's Day will be a failure if they don't buy that expensive jewelry or those expensive chocolates or that lobster dinner. And every year, I watch people make each other happy with so much less, and so much more. I don't want diamonds. I really don't care whether dinner is nine or ninety dollars a plate. What I care about is spending a day that's about love with people that I love, whether it be filos, agape, or eros, doing things that I love, and being glad to be alive.

Ryan sent me roses. Rob not only called to wish me a happy Valentine's Day, he took it with good grace when I wailed that I was trying to work and essentially hung up on him. Amy hasn't called, but then, Amy's currently busy being awesome (she's at a convention, she has her fiddle, we all know how this works). I have cards and flowers and cats and I'm getting work done, and it's been a wonderful day.

Here is your Valentine from this California coyote girl, and with it, my deepest wish that you and yours be joyful today. Whether you're alone, together, or covered in scorpions, be joyful, and be loved. They gave us a day for love. I think we should take advantage of that.

giggle

ladyqkat

February 15 2010, 00:56:52 UTC 7 years ago

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kshandra

February 15 2010, 03:09:34 UTC 7 years ago

7 years ago

seanan_mcguire

marshallpayne1

February 15 2010, 00:57:24 UTC 7 years ago

Well said! Hey, I'm a hopeless romantic, I guess. :D

Happy Valentine's Day, Seanan!

February 16 2010, 17:19:39 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you! Same to you!

beccastareyes

February 15 2010, 00:59:22 UTC 7 years ago

When I was a little girl, every Valentine's Day, my mother would give my siblings and I chocolates and a small present when we woke up. It lasted until my first couple of years of grad school -- a care package would come in the mail with chocolate and something small but useful*. I still get a card from her every year. It contributes a lot to not hating the holiday.

* A new hat, a mini-backpack. Usually something she noticed I needed over Christmas.

February 16 2010, 17:19:53 UTC 7 years ago

Okay, that's awesome.

vixyish

February 15 2010, 01:03:08 UTC 7 years ago

*Foxsmooches*

February 16 2010, 17:20:08 UTC 7 years ago

*Coyoteloves*

beckyh2112

February 15 2010, 01:18:48 UTC 7 years ago

I spent today wearing one of my Chimeara Fancies pendants. 'flower women/loving each other like/wild red lilies'. It is lovely and pretty, and it made me feel special despite the headache and lack of significant other to snuggle.

So I talked to people, and I wrote romantic things, and I was happy to be alive. Valentine's is a good day.

Valentine's right before Mardi Gras is an interesting day.

February 16 2010, 17:20:22 UTC 7 years ago

Oh, yay. I am glad it was a good day for you. :)

silvertwi

February 15 2010, 01:44:16 UTC 7 years ago

There are fairies in my dorm. The Valentines they taped to our doors said so. It totally made my day.

ladyfox7oaks

February 15 2010, 05:13:08 UTC 7 years ago

THAT is entirely TOO COOL! :D

wcg

February 15 2010, 01:58:56 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you, Seanan. Have a very happy Valentine's Day.

February 16 2010, 17:20:45 UTC 7 years ago

You, too.

xanath

February 15 2010, 02:34:06 UTC 7 years ago

Cheerfully accepted, and have one from a roaming mountain lioness. :)

February 16 2010, 17:20:58 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you!

redrob

February 15 2010, 02:35:07 UTC 7 years ago

Yes! The scorpions love me!

Alex

February 16 2010, 17:21:15 UTC 7 years ago

And once I put them in your bed, you can feel their love up close.

twfarlan

February 15 2010, 02:36:56 UTC 7 years ago

From your tweet, I see that you had an unpleasant disruption to your day. I hope that you get better and that on balance your Valentine's Day is remembered as a good one.

February 16 2010, 17:21:33 UTC 7 years ago

I did get better; it was a short-lived disruption, thankfully.

kat_merle

February 15 2010, 03:04:38 UTC 7 years ago

*loves* Happy Valentines Sweetie.

February 16 2010, 17:21:46 UTC 7 years ago

Same to you, darlin'.

scholarinexile

February 15 2010, 03:21:38 UTC 7 years ago

Happy Valentine's Day to you too, and thank you. :)

February 16 2010, 17:21:56 UTC 7 years ago

Always, always welcome.

lovefromgirl

February 15 2010, 03:28:16 UTC 7 years ago

Avenue Q reference for the win. :-)

We were together today. We are not together most other days, and I have certainly never spent a Valentine's Day with a beloved, so this was special. For us, it was a nice excuse to revel in each other. Someday, when I am living closer, we will have more days/evenings like that. Now is not yet someday. We take the time where we can.

Happy Valentine's Day, Seanan. May you continue to feel loved all year 'round.

February 16 2010, 17:22:11 UTC 7 years ago

And may you do the same.

bearhand

February 15 2010, 03:46:04 UTC 7 years ago

Valentine's Day was the day I got married, unfortunately, June 6 was the day I got divorced. I had hoped for a cycle of life thingy, but I own a Honda, not a Harley.

technoshaman

February 15 2010, 04:57:22 UTC 7 years ago

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Honda. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." I certainly did.

May you find what you're looking for... and meanwhile, enjoy life on two wheels!

lysystratae

February 15 2010, 04:36:25 UTC 7 years ago

And a happy valentine's day to you, too; mine was very nice, and far from expensive (never liked diamonds, anyway, so that lets hubby off the hook on that end, lol)

February 16 2010, 17:22:52 UTC 7 years ago

I love your icon.

ladyallyn

February 15 2010, 04:48:21 UTC 7 years ago

>Every year, I see heartfelt denials of Valentine's Day, calling it the worst >day in the world to be single, a "Hallmark holiday," and a crass excuse for >commercialized pink.

Silly Humans!!! Don't they know pink is For.The.Boobies...?

Every day is value those you care about day in my world. I've lost far too many and have nearly been lost to them a time or two.

dornbeast

February 15 2010, 07:38:38 UTC 7 years ago

Don't they know pink is For.The.Boobies...?

It is? I'm fairly certain that some boobies are blue, at least on the feet.

What? Oh, that kind of boobies?

Never mind!

angel_vixen

February 15 2010, 04:48:27 UTC 7 years ago

I don't like the idea that a holiday will be a failure if you don't get the requisite diamonds/chocolates/car/etc. My boyfriend actually apologized for getting me a shirt and board game I'd been aching to buy; "I thought I should do something fancier," he said.

Bah! I'm with you: as long as there's love of any kind, I'm happy. Happy Day of Love, and may you continue to be as loved as you are.

AngelVixen :-)

February 16 2010, 18:42:33 UTC 7 years ago

Excellent, and same to you.

cleothyla

February 15 2010, 07:33:12 UTC 7 years ago

Happy Valentine's day to you, Seanan. I wish I could send you Red Roses and Dead things but you've already gotten that. Hugs!

February 16 2010, 18:42:50 UTC 7 years ago

Ryan sent me roses, Alice gave me dead things. :)

copperwise

February 15 2010, 08:02:36 UTC 7 years ago

I spent Valentine's Day watching British TV and making Valentine cookies and making the first Chimera Fancy that I've ever made specifically for my girlfriend and watching a conspiracy theory video about the reptilian space people who control our government. Thought of all of the people I love, you being right up there at the top. It was a good day.

Love you. Miss you. *hugs*

February 16 2010, 18:43:28 UTC 7 years ago

Love you. Miss you. Hugs.

kitrona

February 15 2010, 08:53:44 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you. That actually made me cry, in a good way, after a really shitty evening (ironically enough, made shitty by a couple of guys who were trying to do the "pick up" thing). I know you don't know me from Eve, but you are a beautiful (if occasionally slightly putrid :P ) soul and I'm thankful the world has people like you in it. :)

February 16 2010, 18:43:44 UTC 7 years ago

I'm glad to have made your day better.

Double-plus good!

snowcoma

February 15 2010, 12:55:57 UTC 7 years ago

I not only got to spend Valentines with my favorite person ever, but when midnight rolled around, it marked our one-year anniversary.

Instead of flowers, he brought me four cases of Mountain Dew. He gets me.

Re: Double-plus good!

February 16 2010, 18:43:52 UTC 7 years ago

Awesome!

Deleted comment

February 16 2010, 18:44:08 UTC 7 years ago

What a wonderful thing!

jacylrin

February 15 2010, 18:50:57 UTC 7 years ago

My husband got me a DVD he knew I'd like. I gave him a card that made farting noises and an obnoxious pair of boxers. And I got my boyfriend a Giant Microbe of Mono.

:-P

February 16 2010, 18:44:24 UTC 7 years ago

And all is thus right with the world.

vaspider

February 17 2010, 03:13:34 UTC 7 years ago

On Valentine's Day, my diabetic husband went out to Gertrude Hawk and bought me a giant box of things he can't eat and doesn't even like to have in the house, and he has happily ever since listened to me make near-orgasmic noises over the delicious dark-chocolate caramels he's brought.

On Valentine's Day, my husband went out to Yankee Candle, where they sneered at him for buying a 'non-seasonal' candle and brought me home not only Sandalwood and Storm Chaser, but Spiced Pumpkin. Despite the sneers.

I fucking love Valentine's Day. :)

February 17 2010, 20:08:34 UTC 7 years ago

For good, obvious, and wonderful reasons.

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A Valentine from a Coyote Girl.

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A Valentine from a Coyote Girl.

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*giggle*

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Double-plus good!

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giggle

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