Dear corporate execs, hallmark shareholders, purveyors of things cute, pink, and fuzzy:

I first want to extend to you my congratulations. Every V-day you manage to flood stores with the spoor of commercialized affection. You make it easy for someone to go buy a small gift, a token or trinket to attempt to make up for disingenuine living. You tell people that unless they receive such tokens, their partner doesn't *really* love them. You do incredible damage to the subtle natures and delicate sensibilities of those who choose to let every day be equal in amorousness... and you do damm good business as well.

But to the pith of my letter:
I regret to inform you, I will not be contributing to your business ventures. Even as I look out my window at the party supply shop, watching a woman carry a massive bouquet of balloons and jam them into her minivan, I sigh and shake my head.
There are those who protest this 'holiday' completely and refuse to acknowledge its passing...
but I feel I do it much better service by taking it at face value... with intention and not the almighty dollar in heart and mind.
Love is love, and though I rather prefer Beltaine as a celebration of Love, I'll take any other excuse I can as well. Every day should have notes of it but what an opportunity we have, twice in a year, to celebrate the tremulous joy of sharing our soul with another- the bliss of the shared experience?
And for those alone today, or unhappily committed- today is a day to celebrate love as a concept- it exists for us all, deep within us in a way no one else can touch, but is ours to give as we wish.
In closing, men in shirt and jacket with silken noose about your neck,
Good luck with everyone else.
Best regards,
Aryn
PS. If you start commercializing Beltaine, I don't know if I'd be upset or amused... but you *have* to tell people what that maypole represents, first!