Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and once again I didn't send flowers. I know, I know, but hear me out. I like flowers, but I like to think of them as my phone-a-friend option, when all else fails. When I've sent flowers in the past, the woman in question (now including my wife) knew, okay--this is a special, special occasion. I feel flowers, especially roses, can become as casual as "I love you" if the context excludes sincerity.
When I was younger, I was really into the single rose and carnation. The latter was certainly more affordable as a high schooler. Once I graduated college, I could aspire to getting them from 1800flowers.com. My high school would have flower sales on Valentine's Day as well as during other holidays. The first time I saw a green carnation was on Saint Patrick's Day. The idea was that you could buy a carnation for about fifty cents, and then include a note with the name, classroom, and class period of your beloved. You just had to make sure you got the details right, or the person didn't decided to cut class that day.
One of my best jobs ever was working for the Arts and Event Department at University of Massachusetts at Boston, in the early nineties. One Valentine's Day, a colleague and I had to pass out as many single roses as we could, to everyone on campus who would accept one. I was amazed at how many women were more than happy to take one, and how many men wanted to beat me up for even suggesting they take one. A few guys did though. Don't worry gentlemen; your secret is safe with me.
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