Rambling Thoughts: Hand Me A Doughnut, It’s Time To Celebrate Valentine’s Day

/ Ally Bean

I WASN’T GOING TO POST ANYTHING today because I know many of you dislike Valentine’s Day with a red-hot passion that burns deep within your very souls.

You, my gentle readers, mentioned this in the comment section of my post, Just Curious: Tell Me, What’s Your Least Favorite Holiday?

From your comments I discerned, because I am a woman who can discern, that many people have issues with Valentine’s Day.  Issues that remind me that I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes by being happy about this day.  Nope, crazy lurks everywhere, causing issues until there’s medical intervention.

Or doughnuts.

Which are just like time spent with a therapist but more accessible and less expensive.

Quote me, if you like.

~ ~ ❤️ ~ ~

WHICH, OF COURSE, BRINGS ME TO the quote I’ve shared at the top of this post.  It’s a quote from Tom Robbin’s novel, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues.  I read this novel in college.  I majored in English Literature, and this novel is an example of a subculture hippy novel, well-written, descriptive, not based in reality.

Yada, yada, yada.

So here’s the thing, the above quote is what I remember the most from the novel.  As I recall the quote means that in life, love is what you use to fill the space so that there’s no emptiness.

~ ~ ❤️ ~ ~

OR AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT I think it means, and considering how long ago I studied that novel, I want some credit for even remembering the quote… about love… on Valentine’s Day.

And with that glimpse into my addled brain I’ll end this post.  You may choose to believe that I’ve wished you a Happy Valentine’s Day OR if you hate this holiday you may choose to believe I have not wished you a Happy Valentine’s Day.

As with most things, it’s all in how you look at it.

82 thoughts on “Rambling Thoughts: Hand Me A Doughnut, It’s Time To Celebrate Valentine’s Day”

  2. I don’t get the hate. I mean, of course I understand what people say, but first choose a partner with your values (dislike of commercial holidays or whatever) and then you can laugh at how stupid everyone else is for celebrating. I’m single and sometimes lonely and even I don’t hate hearts day. I’m happy for the peeps who are gonna get lucky today, and I’ll be thankful for the other kinds of love in my life. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    • Paula, you make a good argument for liking Valentine’s Day. Stay positive and don’t hate. Valentine’s Day doesn’t worry me, but then most holidays come and go without much fuss around here. To each his or her own, eh?

      Liked by 1 person

    • Zen-Den, aren’t you a sweet talker? I agree with you about the doughnuts… sad as it is to admit… eating them every day would do us more harm than good. *le sigh*

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    • nancy, I agree. It’s funny how I don’t remember much about the novel except that quote. Hippy Lit was not my thing in college, nor is it now… unless it helps me write a blog post.

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      • Zen-Den’s comment reminded me of a song:

        Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Ally
        Ally makes our ‘earts so light
        When the day is gray and ordinary
        Ally makes the sun shine bright!
        Oh ‘appiness is bloomin’ all around ‘er
        The daffoldils are smilin’ at the dove
        When Ally holds the pen
        It feels so zen
        It’s why we stop by here
        So often

        Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Ally
        No wonder that it’s Ally that we love!

        Liked by 1 person

        • 💗 Well you know I’m going to love a song like this one. Thanks for sharing it here. Now if only the sun shine you mention in the song would find its way to this part of the world, I’d be super happy.

          Liked by 1 person

    • philmouse, you’re sounding a little cynical about Valentine’s Day as if it’s only a commercialization of a sentiment that is tossed around by people who want to make money. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours, too. 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I’m a total sucker for holidays…including Valentine’s Day. Richard just had coffee and breakfast (okay, tangerine slices…..that’s all I had) served to him in bed. If a day gives us another excuse to celebrate life and love, I’m all for it!

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    • Donna, your positive attitude about all holidays is to be commended. I’m sure that tangerine slices served in bed are the PERFECT way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Heck, they’d work for any holiday now that I think about it. Food… yum…

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  11. I embrace holidays that involve good food or an excuse for good food. I’m making a wonderful lobster dinner which is special in our house. It doesn’t have to be overly commercial. Just thoughtful. Now April Fools Day is just stupid.

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    • Kate, you and I are on the same page about holidays. I’m making spaghetti and meat sauce for our dinner tonight. Nothing over the top, but will be a nice way to celebrate. And that is what I figure all holidays should be about– celebrating, not overspending.

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  13. At this point in my life, I don’t care about it enough to love or hate it. I do have a lot of memories from when I worked in Corporate America, and all day long on the loud speaker you’d hear someone called to the front desk. Bingo – flowers or candy delivered to someone who is loved. And, hope to heck the rest of you not so lucky folks recognize that fact. (Yes, they could have used the phone to call that person, but it didn’t make near the statement.) 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy, no kidding? People who were receiving gifts had their names announced for all to hear? Well, that’s just plain unmannerly, if you ask me. No one need know who gets what for Valentine’s Day! Honestly, people get weird and competitive over the oddest things. 🤨

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  14. Having sworn off sugar this year, I embrace your post for it has made it possible for me to now enjoy a doughnut again — via the hole in the middle, so long neglected and overlooked. We thank you. Happy day of romantic love.

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  15. Well, I had a studio put up in our backyard on Monday so Valentine’s Day came early for me. 🙂 Yesterday it was raining when I had to go to work so my husband brought the car to the edge of the walkway so I wouldn’t have to go too far in the rain. That’s Valentine’s Day in my opinion.

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  16. In my ideal world, people would show one another they care frequently, without being told it’s the day to do so. Holidays would be celebrated for the reason for the holiday, without the need to overspend for gifts that may or may not be appreciated, wanted, or used. We would revel in time spent with those we care about, and make up our reasons to do so.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carol, I like your ideas. I’m not much for overdoing any holiday, so you can be sure our Valentine’s Day will be a frugal, YET LOVELY, celebration. I agree that spending time with people you care about should be a given in life, not something that happens because a holiday tells us we have to do it. Yet… here we are… in a Hallmark-y world… 🤷‍♀️

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  17. I don’t hate on Valentine’s Day, I just don’t care for the commercialized hype. I remember feeling bad (the small part of me, not the big part who should have been happy for the recipient) when I was single and fellow office workers received flowers and I didn’t. That being said, I accept all donations of sweets, so bring them on! Oh, and hippy me LOVED Even Cowgirls Get The Blues! I also read it – many times – in college. Did you long for big thumbs too?

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    • Janis, I take holidays in stride. I don’t especially want to go bankrupt celebrating them, but will give a nod to the day with some food or decorations. I can imagine how seeing someone else receive VD flowers, when you didn’t, could make a person a little… shall we say?… peeved.

      I’ve re-read Even Cowgirls Get The Blues a few times since college. I liked it then, but because I had to study it for a grade, I didn’t enjoy so much. Later when I read it for fun as an older + wiser adult, I liked it more. Those thumbs… those cranes… that ranch, I loved it all. Long live Sissy and Bonanza Jellybean!

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  19. If love is the hole in the doughnut, then every time I eat a Munchkin, I get ingest more love. I’m going with that.

    I’m not a huge fan of this day as an obligation, but if you’re already the loving type and you use to to share a lil’ more love, then that’s OK methinks.

    Also, at my all-girls high school, it was friendship day, so… Happy Friendship Day, Ally Bean!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Tara, I like your take on this quote that came into mind for today’s post. Eat More Munchkins has a certain loving ring to it.

      You went to an all-girls high school? Having gone to a basic small-town boys + girls high school, I can only imagine what that’d be like. I’m glad you got to celebrate VD day in your own way. Happy Friendship Day to you, too, Tara.

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    • Marty, it’s a good quote that for some reason floated into my head when I was thinking about Valentine’s Day. For me I suspect I remembered it more for the doughnut reference than for any literary pretentiousness. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too, Marty. Make it a good one.

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  23. Not a fan of the VDay, but I like donuts and I did love that book. I do not remember that line, but upon reading it, it sounded familiar, how things do. I have enjoyed three kinds of heart-shaped pastries this month, but they’d taste equally good as circles, I’m sure 🙂

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    • joey, I remember that quote from the book in the same way that I remember all sorts of random quotes that seemingly have no useful purpose… until I go to write a blog post. I agree, heart-shaped pastries are nice, but circle ones are just as fine. Especially when in the shape of a doughnut…

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  24. I’m amazed that you remembered such an esoteric quote.

    I’m a widow, so I have to buy my own chocolates. But I still like Valentines Day with its symbols of chocolates and flowers and its reminders of love.

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    • Behind the Story, I’m amazed I remembered it, too– although I had to double check it to make sure I had it right. I was very close.

      We don’t do much for Valentine’s Day, not being into the commercialization aspects of it. But like you said, it’s a good day to remember love, so *yay*

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  25. I consider myself a romantic, but Valentine’s Day isn’t at all romantic in my opinion. It’s up there with New Year’s Eve in terms of a sense of forced gaiety.

    However, I won’t turn down chocolate, doughnuts, flowers, or jewelry on ANY day.

    Husband? Are you listening? 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Joanne, I agree. I hadn’t thought of it before, but Valentine’s Day is exactly like New Year’s Eve. One trip to the grocery yesterday proved that– balloons and flowers and wine were everywhere… just like for NYE. Forced gaiety, for sure.

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  26. Love your doughnut wisdom, Ally. I actually had one on Valentine’s Day and can attest to the fact that you are right. Of course my having the doughnut was purely to prove that what you said was true. I also had some chocolates, because I could.

    Liked by 1 person

    • L. Marie, I’m pleased to learn that you had a doughnut yesterday and feel overly proud that I could nudge in that direction. I, too, had a doughnut, but have to admit that I didn’t follow tradition and have some chocolates. Still, it was a good Valentine’s Day. Hoping yours was, too.

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  27. Without going back and looking at the old post, I’ll bet I picked New Years Day as my least favorite holiday since I’m always ranting about the stupidity of it. VD is more of a celebration than a holiday, and I tend to hate most of the celebrations on basic principle… with the slight exception of Halloween. That doesn’t stop me from embracing the concept of the celebration when necessary. It also means that I can enjoy the 50% off Valentine’s Day unicorn I bought myself this morning and not have to give it to a Valentine I don’t have…

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    • evilsquirrel13, ever practical, I see. Looking for the bright side, and sales mdse, of Valentine’s Day. And just think, with a new unicorn for your collection you are well on your way to a better tomorrow. Good job, evilsquirrel13.

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  28. Since Valentine’s Day predates Hallmark, I’m good with it. One year, we did a movie date for V-Day. Afterwards, we walked across the courtyard to an ice cream parlor/dessert shop. The joint was jumpin’ with tables of gal pals and families and couples having a good time celebrating. It was big fun. I love it the way I love a good agri-fair, or a walk on the beach, or a warm pretzel from a street vendor. I just love the joy of it.

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  29. For some reason, this quote reminded of an old saying (which I can’t exactly remember) that says something about how as we age we experience many losses, therefore it’s important to continue to reach out and make new friends to keep the hearth fires warm.

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    • Sheryl, that’s a good sentiment. I agree. Many people are gone from my life [for a variety of reasons]– and now it’s important for me “to keep the hearth fires warm.” Maybe that’s the essence of blogging, now that I think about it.

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  30. Does a “Happy Belated Valentine’s Day” count for anything? Nah, I didn’t think so either. So, um…Happy Saturday it is! Yeah, that’ll work. And it didn’t cost either one of us anything, except a penny for our thoughts! xx

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