I know this is kind of a late entry for Valentine's Day but I've read some really interesting posts from some of my blogger friends ( Marianer Joy, Mary ) that somehow prompted me to share my point of view on this.

Unless you've been living under a rock since birth, we all know that Saint Valentine's day or Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine's cards or candy. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine's Day. I got pink roses and a nice card from Kenny but he wisely skipped the candies or chocolates as he's been hearing me fret about my weight gain and insecurities . Anyway, the day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline  and the figure of the winged Cupid. I remember making those type of cards back in grade school and handing them out to friends and family members. It was very innocent and sweet, so free of angst from the pressures that romance brings. It was the time when we have not yet tasted the bitterness of unrequited love or having your affection rebuffed from the object of your admiration. And that was just in high school.  Those rose-colored glasses have long been taken off, I must say.

Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. In the United States, the marketing of Valentine's Day has tagged it as a "Hallmark holiday." A recent trend has been to refer to February 14 as Singles Awareness Day. Aside from the obvious occasion, the day can mean so many things to people. Well, it so happens that it also marks the day that Kenny proposed to me five years ago.  Yep, on Valentine's Day in 2002, at the Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida. It was right before the spectacular fireworks show. We just had dinner at a Moroccan restaurant and were rushing to catch the parade and the show when he suddenly steered us away from the crowd towards a small bridge somewhere. While catching my breath, he got down on a bended knee and presented me with a ring lying inside a small red velvet box. Through the blur of tears, I saw his lips moving and the next thing I know, I said "Yes!" in response to that much-awaited question.. Needless to say, we were both too emotional for words. It took a few minutes before the reality finally sinked in. We got engaged!  We're getting married! Oh, my!

I'd be lying if I tell you that our engagement was a total surprise to me. I've had hints and clues for months but everytime I thought he was going to propose to me (like on Christmas Day, New Year's eve/ day), I was left baffled and undeniably disappointed . So, even as we were planning for our trip to Disneyland (my first), I tried not to get my hopes raised. I regarded it only as a fun vacation for both of us, a reprieve from the winter blues. I was just ecstatic enough to finally be able to fulfill the ultimate childhood dream of being in the wonderful world of Disney. Growing up in the Philippines, it was one of those things that a child can only dream of. Experiencing it with Kenny was a big bonus indeed.

I guess you could say that on that one Valentine's Day, I visited the land of fairy tales and got my Prince Charming too.   Okay, gotta stop now or this can get sappier than I intended. I'm sure some of you have your own engagement stories to tell. It would be nice to read about them too.