February 13, 2010
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Memories Of A Past Valentine
The year of ‘95 was memorable. Following my recovery from a spinal fusion surgery, I overcame the gamble of spending the rest of my life on a respirator. I was thrilled to return for the eighth grade. I even developed a crush on Keri.
I never understood the concept of falling in love until I realized my feelings for her. We became friends in grade four and hit it off in French class. When I foolishly mispronounced the word for Friday as “Friggidy”… hilarious!
The months leading up to Valentine’s Day are a blur, but there was a moment that redefined our relationship. When she complemented my new height, I became speechless for the first time in front of her, and something clicked. I never did tell her why I had “grown” so quickly.
My heart raced more than ever as I contemplated whether to confess my feelings. It was ridiculous, and when the ingenious wheels inside my brain finally kicked in, I ended up giving her a homemade card the day before.
“I really, really, really, really, really like you.”
I’m still not sure what came over me that I wrote the letters in a really, really, really, really, really stupid font.
She didn’t speak to me for a while, but come summer, things flowed like milk and honey. I lent her my recorded copy of the ‘Melrose Place’ season finale, our favourite night-time soap. Remember Michael and his crazy antics?
In one of my crazy antics, I wrote her name on the baseball field with my wheels. It was how the rumours began. I’ll never forget that one recess when she confronted me, especially the tone of her voice.
“Ricky…” she started.
She explained how she didn’t want to ruin our friendship. As tears streamed down her face, I felt my world collapse. I desperately tried to convince her otherwise regarding the lies, but then it hit me.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I learned what it meant to love someone with a selfless heart. I got real and thought of being in separate high schools, the progression of my weakness, and how as a boyfriend, I’d only burden her. Within seconds, I made the hardest decision of my life. I stopped fighting for potentials and let her go.
Watching her walk away as the bell rang, I felt a gentle summer breeze washing over me. My entire life perspective changed unexpectedly. I understood the complexities and hardships of my romance.
It was a bittersweet tale of hopeful beginnings and hopeless ends; my unrequited romance. The lessons of love are what inspire me, and I’d relive that moment, time and time again.
Reader, what is your favourite Valentine’s Day memory? What are the most important lessons in love you’ve ever learned?
Comments (36)
Haha, boys are fools and more of them are hopeless romantics than originally thought.
I don't have any Valentine's Day memories. Nobody ever asked me out and those who did were turned down.
Your story is sweet but also really heartbreaking at the same time. Boo on unrequited romance.
I hope that tomorrow will be the best Valentine's Day of my life.
...especially since all my previous ones have sucked goat balls.
No, really.
Someone sent me a home made valentine card when I was in secondary school, she got one of her mates to give it to me in science - it cause great intrested for some of the lads in my class.
I feel that Valentine's Day was originated to make singles like me feel like crap.
this is a really nice story. thanks for sharing it!
My most memorable (not necessarily best) Valentine's Day was when I was in junior high, I believe. We could send our secret admirer a carnation with a note attached to it (like the candy cane grams in Mean Girls). My friends and I definitely were not going to be receiving carnations, so in our feeble attempt to look "cool," we sent them to each other. The notes were gushy and we disguised our handwriting to look "boyish." We were very pleased with ourselves, especially when people asked us all day who the carnations were from. Oh, junior high.... :S
None such memories or lessons, unfortunately :/
Although, I'll keep in mind to tell you if I ever find any. It'll be kinda weird, because I'll just comment or message you one day and rant/write about it. Just out of the blue when it hits me. Hm...
Time to gather for dinner :O
No Valentines day memories. The most important Lesson in Love that I have learned is that, loving someone can seem selfish. A simple desire. If they don't feel the same way..then you can only wish for their happiness.
That was such a sad story T~T
i've always been single on vday, so the only memories i have are me and my girlie friends doing stupid stuff
Oh that story is such a famliar tale with my life. loll. Sucks doesn't it huh?
Lol, I dumped my boyfriend the day before Valentine's Day because I was young and foolish and seriously afraid of falling in love with someone younger than me. Luckily, he wasn't going to take that shit, so he pretty much made me take him back... And here we are today, I guess!
Ah, Valentine's Day. Good story!
I've always been single on Valentines Day (save for one, and even then it was just any other ordinary day). I think my most epic vday was when I skipped 3 out of 4 periods of school to hang out with one of my girlfriends and a group of private school guys. Met some new people that day haha.
sadly... I dont have any memories... never got the flowers, chocolate etc... the guy i dated forever never really cared for that.. doosh.. but happy valentines day
my favorite was back when I was a kid I used to give my parents love letters..after all valentines day is just not about lovers...it's about LOVE and I LOVE my parents.
Aw, I love the story!:)
ps. I would would rather be told "“I really, really, really, really, really like you.”, than "I love you". It's less cliche, sounds more from the heart. It's not just what everyone says, so it actually sounds believable.
I couldn't top this story with a library of romance novels. And she thought it was just platonic? After the zillions of "really" 's you laid on her? Dude--that's just fickle. You know the saying--the brave man kills with a sword, the coward with a kiss.
Out of curiosity--do you know where Keri is?
Let me share this with you--from Man Of LaMancha
To each his Dulcinea
That he alone can name...
To each a secret hiding place
Where he can find the haunting face
To light his secret flame.
For with his Dulcinea Beside him so to stand,
A man can do quite anything,
Outfly the bird upon the wing,
Hold moonlight in his hand.
Yet if you build your life on dreams
It's prudent to recall,
A man with moonlight in his hand
Has nothing there at all.
There is no Dulcinea,
She's made of flame and air,
And yet how lovely life would seem
If ev'ry man could weave a dream
To keep him from despair.
To each his Dulcinea...
Though she's naught but flame and air!
I have a similar story...ish. I gave a special valentine to a girl in my class that was different than the ones I gave out to everyone else.
I got in trouble, not from the administration, who didn't know about my innocent "I like girls" faux pas, but from the rest of the kids in my class. I despised Valentine's day in school ever since that day. Being in kindergarten and not understanding the implications of having those special feelings for a girl totally sucked.
I was never ashamed of it, though. I only wanted to avoid that mess again. I'm sort of glad I didn't let that scar me and make me feel embarrassed for myself.
Ah, unrequited love. The only kind i've ever experienced as well. It sucks, doesn't it?
My favorite Valentine's day memory is the only one I really have. I spent it with some of my favorite people, doing one of those people's homework. And I yelled at the guy I briefly "went out" with later that year. Yeah, it was a good day. I don't know, it's usually just like every other day to me, except I usually get pajamas or something. And candy.
Most important lesson in love I've learned? Don't pretend you are in love with someone because someone else told you that person obviously likes you and then get mad at the person for not actually liking you... And don't settle for someone who you consider to be a cheap knock-off of the one you really like. Especially if that's part of the first part of that lesson.
We're all human, that's for sure. I'm sure that operation gave you extra zing too. Feelings, eh?/ Nice to have you share it.
That story's sweet, but almost a litle sad at the same time. My favourite Valentines day memory was from 2 years ago, my bf bought me the first bouquet of roses I've ever received. They were violet, soo pretty
And youre from Toronto! Nice
wish I had a story to tell. I've avoided every girl that i've liked or have a crush on, I swear itll never happen time and time again but it does, repetition is a bitch...... story of my life.
i would friend you but you post way too frequently. you added me before but you dominated my home page. sorry ):
my favourite valentine memory was actually this year ^_^
we celebrated it early because my boyfriend is on vacation.
we ended the night with a bottle of champagne, in his candlelit bedroom and a movie ^_^
hey, Ricky, my first time to reply ur post...
seems a sad love story, tot ur 1st love, right? (hope i am not wrong, XDD)
wish you and your family a happy and prosperous year ahead
also wish you a happy and memorable valentine's day ... XDD
you get sweeter every update Ricky.
I've learned when to let that person go.
You were a wise little man. Some silly boys never learn how to face rejection and probably never find the love that they need. You, on the other hand, have people all over the world who love, oops, really, rEally, reaLLy, REALLY, like you. Add me to your list your Valentines.
Aww, I am sorry you had to go through that. But you were a brave one!
This post was so sweet. Don't get me wrong I love all of your outrageous posts. But It's always nice to see your sweeter side. <3 I really, really, really, really, really liked this.
I honestly don't have any good valentines day memories... I think I've had boyfriends for most of them. *shrugs* My boyfriend today got me a build a bear and a big heart box of chocolate. yay hehe that's all I wanted really. Candy... yeah I'm a fatty.
Wow. I don't know if I have a favorite memory, but I appreciate your story. It is heartbreaking but I applaud young you for your actions.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY RICKY LOVED THE STORY HUGS.. ROBIN
I had some memories visit today, perhaps because it's also Chinese New Year as well as Saint Valentines Day. I posted some pictures today along with a few words about a lost love; check them out if you have time. Just look in my photos section, the picture titled "autograph" tells it all.
Be strong or be wrong, right Ricky...?
I havent really has any exceptional valentines, but love lessons I guess is, you dont get what you give.
Awww, that's so cute.
I think my favorite Valentine's Day is this one. My love is in the Navy and stationed like, 1000 freakin miles away. But he's home for now. He finally came over today about 4 with pretty flowers and a box of chocolate. The most memorable part I think, is the part where he borrowed his grandpa's car, which is a 5-speed, and he only learned how to drive it about 2 hours before he picked me up. So on the way to dinner, the car kept jerking and stalling and I was laughing about it. He was a little embarrassed I think, but I thought it was funny and cute really. We then cuddled a little and waited to get seated, and talked about last Valentine's Day and such.
I try not to celebrate Valentine's day, but I found your story very touching. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, great post. Thanks for sharing it. I'll have to think on Valentine's memories. I guess it would be the V.D. of 2007, because it was the first one I ever spent in a relationship - and the first with the love of my life. Prior to that it always seemed I was single (terminally), but if I had dated someone, it never failed that the relationship ended just before the holiday rolled around.
I don't have a favorite memory, probably because none of mine stand out. My first boyfriend broke up with me days before Valentine's Day two years ago, so that was just the most memorable one.
I don't think I realized just how much you have to trust someone with your heart until that relationship had ended. I didn't realize how much presence he had in my life until he wasn't there anymore. He was my first, so I kind of just went with the flow, but now that I think about it, there has to be a reason why I haven't had another relationship since. I still think about our relationship and what I could have done or should have done. I should have been more cautious, and that's what I've become since then.
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