It’s 2005~ish and I’m at the San Francisco airport. I stop at the See’s shop to pick up a box of chocolates for my clients as my Pasalubong for them. I usually like to pick up either sourdough bread or See’s candies when I’m coming from SFO…

In the store, I see hearts everywhere. I’m comparing the boxes and found that even the chocolates were in heart shapes. I was boggled. I wondered why all the hearts, everywhere…

I go up to the counter to pay for the goods and I asked the cashier, “why all the hearts, everywhere?”

I got the evil eye for a brief second. Then, she stared at me like I was from another planet. Silence ensued for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, she replied and it sounded like, she spoke with an insulted tone, “it’s valentines!” It’s the kind of tone where I heard her say, “DUH!” even though she didn’t say it out loud.

Me: “Aaaaahhhhh! Oh my goodness gracious! Silly me.” Single much? Or rather, resigned much? I hadn’t celebrated Valentines for so long that it was moot in my world…

Fast forward to January 2011: I walked into Target (pronounced: TAR~jet -soft on the second t-) and saw hearts, everywhere. I hadn’t changed much. I asked the same darn question, “why all the hearts, everywhere?” Except that time, I didn’t ask it out loud and figured it out on my own…early enough. Thank you so much.

Ah, valentines. It’s sneakin’ up on us. I’ll remember this time and celebrate it this year.

Heads up. Valentines Day is on Friday, February 14.