Here’s the thing about Valentine’s Day that so many people forget: It’s not just for people in relationships.
It’s a day to celebrate love, and to do things you love doing.
That’s how I spend the day: Eating at places I love, listening to music I love, giving attention to people I love, and so on.
If you look at the day like I do, it’s hard to get all grumbly when confronted with all the flowers, candy, and general mushiness in the air.
One day, I’ll get swept into all that again. But until then, I’ll be celebrating these things that I love, on Valentine’s Day and always:
Alec Baldwin’s Here’s the Thing podcasts
Trying not to eat an entire order of Cookie Dough Pancakes at In a Pickle all by myself
Conversations with my niece
A warm hoodie from Roots
The way the folks at Finagle a Bagel in Chestnut Hill get my cookie and soda ready when they see me on line, before I’ve even ordered them
FaceTiming with my nephews
Roast beef sandwiches at Sam Lagrassa’s
Great photos on Instagram
Winning a game of Words with Friends
Shoshanna and Marnie on Girls (for very different reasons)
Laying under my Slanket on a cold night
2nd Street Creamery’s Truck Stop Fudge
Browsing the magazine rack at Barnes & Noble
The movies of Paul Thomas Anderson
The macaroni and cheese at Johnny’s Luncheonette
Twitter, for, among other things, being a lifeline to the outside world
Cupcakes with lots of icing
Take-out places with caller-ID where, when I call to place an order, the staff asks, “Is this Martin?”
Staying up till 12 a.m. on Wednesday nights to download and skim through the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on my iPad
Walking the streets of Boston in late afternoon around sunset, or after dark during the summer
The music and worldview of Bruce Springsteen
I love all of these things, and so much more.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
What things do you love, that you’re celebrating today? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Martin's Musings 
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