Amateur Night

Chain chain chain! Chain of fools. (Quoth the longtime fool.)

I took this photo out of the moonroof of my car on Valentines Day, as my husband and I fought five minutes of traffic to go to our favorite Japanese restaurant. Normally traffic is about like this on Thursday nights at rush hour, but I know for sure that some of these would-be lovers were rushing off to to a date with a spouse or new girlfriend or boyfriend. Valentines Day is made out to be a big deal. It’s hard to escape feeling pressure to go ahead and make someone’s day — by giving her flowers, candy, a big night out with a special prix fixe multi-course meal for only the price of a car payment! Last week I heard a long-married man refer to Valentines Day as “amateur night,” and I wholeheartedly agree.

I wrote last year about how disappointing this holiday has been for me, even when I’ve been in a relationship, but I think I’m in a new phase. Other than still rushing around to make sure my kids have edible swag to give to their classmates and See’s candy for their teachers, I think I finally have no expectations. Which is why it was such a lovely surprise for my spouse to take me out for a low-key dinner at our favorite place. It’s the kind of place where there’s no mention of Valentines Day, let alone a “special,” gout-inducing, extra pricey meal. We are greeted with only the usual “Irasshaimase!” Welcome!

I couldn’t have hurried to this moment any faster than these cars can reach their destinations as quickly as they would hope. This year I’m just glad I noticed what a good travel companion I have.