A disappointing Valentine’s Day

Feb 15, 2019 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Last Friday, an old, grey-haired man walked into one of Georgetown’s finest jewellery stores with a beautiful young lady at his side. He told the jeweller he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend for Valentine.
The jeweller looked through his stock and brought out a $500,000 ring. The old man said, “No, I’d like to see something more special.” At that statement, the jeweller went to his special stock and brought another ring over. “Here’s a stunning ring at only $1,400,000,” the jeweller said.
The young lady’s eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement. The old man, seeing this, said, “We’ll take it.”
The jeweller asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, “By cheque. I know you need to make sure my cheque is good, so I’ll write it now, and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds, and I’ll pick the ring up Wednesday afternoon in time for Valentine, on Thursday.
Monday morning, the jeweller phoned the old man. “There’s no money in your account.”
“I know,” said the old man, “But let me tell you about my weekend!”
Yesterday was not your usual Valentine Day. There was gloominess about the entire day. It was not filled with the usual excitement. There was a listlessness about the day which was a sign that many people recognized that this was not going to be a Valentine to remember.
Many lovers were resigned to accepting that they would have to spend the entire day alone and without any gifts from their partners. A lot of women did not even have a date yesterday. There were hundreds of them who waited in vain for the roses and the chocolates.
Some girls wore red and sat all day at their workstations waiting on the delivery man. They are still waiting. Others contented themselves with the cheap, artificial roses which were being peddled on the pavement for $100 and a $1500 teddy bear. It was better than what so many others got – nothing.
Some guys could not afford to take their girl out to lunch. That was how humiliating it was yesterday. They simply could not afford the cost of a simple lunch for two.
You knew from the day before that this year’s Valentine would be one with a difference. The stores are usually crowded the day before Valentine’s Day. There were a lot of shoppers in the streets, but not many buyers. The money simply was not there to fritter away on gifts.
The economy has gotten worse. Money is not circulating as it used to. Only the select few could afford the $7,500 to $20,000 per couple range which some of the restaurants were demanding for dinner.
A great many young men were disappointed last night. They had nothing to look forward to, because they, in turn, could not provide the things which their loved ones were anticipating.
One desperate man invited his girl to go to the movies. She was expecting to be taken to the Marriott for a five-course dinner. She was so outraged at the invitation to the cinema that she told him off.
One guy told his girl that while he could not afford to give her a present that would blow her mind, he could shower her with love and affection. She looked at him and walked away, telling him that the supermarkets don’t accept love and affection.
There was a lot of disappointment and humiliation yesterday. Valentine Day was not special for the majority of couples. It was a day which showed how times are becoming tougher and how traditional expectations are not being met.
Perhaps next year will be better!

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