Cupid's "Plan B"

By Christine Johnson

As you get older you tend to reflect on the things you did or didn’t do growing up. I remember my parents asking what my plans were. Do I have a “Plan B” if my first arrangement doesn’t work out? Seemed like a lot of pressure to put on a young adult. Sadly, I am now the adult and posing that same question to my daughter.

Time for the world to slow down and enjoy life. Things seem to have a way of working out the way they are supposed to no matter how much stress we apply to our lives. OK this is a bunch of crap!

I am trying to be philosophical and sentimental because it’s the month of LOVE. How many rolling eye emojis can I insert here? What is it about this month that forces us to make plans? Send cards and flowers? Buy expensive jewels? The answer my friends is rooted in history.

The day is named for St. Valentine. But St. Valentine wasn’t just one person. There were two men who officiated secret weddings of soldiers or wrote “greetings” to women they were falling in love with. But

the holiday also has a dark and even bloody history with strange traditions, pagan rituals and grisly executions. Hence the horror movies that became popular with the Valentine name on the marquee. More romantically, however, it is said that the poet Chaucer linked love with St. Valentine in the fourteenth century with his work “The Parlement of Foules.” The date at the time of his writings was February 14 –which also was considered the first day of spring in Britain and the beginning of the birds mating season which he considered an “appropriate time for a celebration of affection.” Shakespeare also made popular the language of love with his incredible plays, and in the 1910s people began penning love letters to celebrate the day influenced by these two great writers. Thereafter, Hallmark was born!

Nearly 250 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine’s Day every year. We spent $5.8 billion on jewelry for this day in 2020. Thirty-six million boxes of chocolates are sold each year. More than

eight billion conversation hearts by Necco are manufactured annually. And finally, Hallmark states that 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent out each year. These numbers are staggering. Do they really add up to true love? Won’t a hug, kiss, homemade meal and a rom-com suffice?

It’s easy to become cynical when it comes to love. Easier if you are single and don’t have that someone special in your life. Good news on that front – there is an official Valentine’s Day for singles that has been celebrated since 2003. “International Quirkyalone Day” is to celebrate self-love and platonic relationships. If this doesn’t make you run immediately out the front door and find a legit significant other nothing will!

I’m going to help everyone on this day of love with something soothing, simple, way cheaper, and still sparkling and pretty. Since Cupid’s arrows are not always available, I present Cupid’s Plan B Cocktail. It never hurts to be surrounded by the people you love and a yummy drink in your hand.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Prosecco

• 1/4 cup cran-strawberry juice

• 2 ounces whipped cream vodka

• Fresh strawberries for garnish

(Optional: dip in sugar or cut into heart shape)

Mixology

• Mix the vodka and cran-strawberry juice in a cocktail shaker

• Shake the ingredients many times for mixing and to provide a very cold and beautifully colored drink

• Pour the mixture into a champagne flute or elegant glass

• Top with Prosecco

• Garnish with strawberry

(Makes one drink)