Friday, February 12, 1999
Valentine’s Day provides opportunities to be creative
Feb. 14 can be a day filled with culture, fun even if you’re
single
By Mara Schiavo-Campo
Daily Bruin Contributor
Holidays are supposed to be festive, and for the most part, they
are. They’re easy to take advantage of whether you just enjoy the
day off or indulge yourself with those little green shamrock
cookies.
Then there’s Valentine’s Day, the one day of the year when many
people feel inadequate just for being single.
"It’s the day when you’re supposed to have somebody, you’re
supposed to be in love," said Derrick Webster, a second-year
pre-business-economics student.
"But I don’t have somebody and I’m not going to be in love," he
said.
Not everyone allows themselves to wallow in the state of being
valentine-less. In the spirit of exploiting holidays, some singles
are using Valentine’s Day as an excuse to have some fun.
One date alternative is to go out with other single friends and
show your love of the bachelor’s life.
Deanna Hatter, a second-year biology student, plans to balance
her lack of a date with an abundance of single friends.
"I’m a little perturbed because I don’t have a date," she said.
"But I’m looking forward to being with my other single friends so
we can pamper ourselves."
Hatter’s planned ladies’ night out consists of her, about 10 of
her single girlfriends, dinner, a movie, and maybe even a swing by
a strip club.
Hatter said she feels that watching masses of men dance around
in g-strings will be sufficient compensation for not having a
date.
Last Valentine’s Day, Apryl Owens, a third-year psychology
student, took part in a similar night out with her roommate and a
friend.
"Since we didn’t have dates we got dressed up and went to
dinner," she said.
The night got exciting when Owens and her friends used a fake
name to steal a reservation at the restaurant.
"The wait was two hours long and the hostess called this party
of five," she explained. "We told them that two of our people went
home and got the table," she said.
This year, Owens and her roommates are making a trip to Palm
Springs for the holiday weekend.
While the trip coincidentally fell on Valentine’s Day, Owens
said she is content that she now has some plans.
Other people use the holiday of love to show appreciation for
the non-romantic loves in their lives.
"Valentine’s Day is cool if you have a valentine," said Betyshia
Watson, a second-year physiological sciences student. "But you can
still give your family and friends cards."
Watson plans to go home over Valentine’s Day weekend and be with
her family.
She also plans to take her mother out to lunch, and be showered
with cards and candy from her father, who she claimed as her
valentine this year.
Jennifer Ritter, a first year psychology student, has plans to
go on a ski trip with her church.
"The church announcements said ‘come so you don’t have to be
alone on Valentine’s Day,’" she said.
"I’m sad I don’t have a boyfriend but the trip will make it
better because I’ll be with other people who are in my same
situation," Ritter said.
Valentine’s Day can also be more than an opportunity to be with
family and friends. It can be time to spend by yourself, not
dwelling on loneliness, but appreciating solitude. One way to have
fun alone is to go to a museum.
Right now the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is showing a Van
Gogh exhibit.
Indulging in art and culture is definitely one way to take your
mind off sex … err, love, that is.
Another novel way to be alone would be to partake in activities
that remind you of childhood.
Or, you could take advantage of living in Southern California
and go to Disneyland, where adults now get in for children’s
admission price.
If you really want to return to days of innocence, go out and
buy a box of old school valentines, the kind you used to get in
elementary school.
Add some lollipops and those chalky little candy hearts and you
may manage to forget you’re an adult.
Whatever choice in plans you make for Valentine’s Day, it’s
important not to lose sight of the big picture.
It’s a holiday, just like the others. Milk it for all it’s
worth.
Comments, feedback, problems?
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