Funny, cute but true story. This past weekend, my niece who's 5 was looking at a sales paper of products being sold for V-Day, I think it was CVS I don't remember. Anyway, she asked me what was I getting her for Valentines Day which caught me off guard so I said, "Um I don't know, how about a lot of candy?" Then she tells me, "Ok uncle, but you don't have to get me just candy, you can get me some clothes too because I like getting new outfits." 
I couldn't help laughing after she told me that. If that wasn't bad enough, she then tells me I should get enough candy for her parents too. She amazes me with the type of things she says and does.
Was she serious or just being silly? If one of my nieces asked me what I was getting them for Valentine's Day, I'd say (while showing a fist) "a knuckle sandwich - you want cheese on it?" I get my nieces and nephews something (cheap) for Christmas and that's it. I don't want them to see me as a gift machine.
Frankly, I could create a better replacement for this day: "Friendship Day." You can't make a valentine until you find a friend first, which is not always easy to do as I've learned the hard way in life.
I honestly think that would be worse. Retailers would be able to expand their base to everyone with a friend, and more people would annoy you with requests or anticipations for gifts.
You just need to have an open heart.
You've seen that obnoxious Kay Jewlers commercial too many times.
Speaking of which, that's probably the thing I hate most about Valentine's Day. These stupid ads by DeBeers, Kay and the worst-of-the-worst - Jared (mainly because the "men" is these ads are so wimpy). Similar ads run around Christmas time. They almost always seem to be saying that "if you don't buy your wife or girlfriend jewelry, she won't be happy" or "buy this and you'll 'get some'" If your wife or girlfriend only likes you when you buy her things, you've got problems!
