Luv fer Sale

Traffic at the shopping center Wednesday evening was backed up 

as though it were Christmas Eve. People were streaming from the party

store with balloon bouquets. Little children held the ribbons for 

Mylar balloons in one hand, while holding onto mom with

the other as they navigated traffic in the parking lot.

Since the New Year, stores have been stocking wares 

for the annual assault on the objects of our love with brightly colored

ribbons streaming from balloons, flowers, and chocolates. They've caught

our eyes as we walked through the produce department, building

our anticipation, adding beautifully arranged bouquets of

myriad flowers as Valentine's Day drew closer.

The whole flower department looked like a carnival 

of commercialized amore. Rows of stuffed animals leaned, 

appealing to the soft, paniced hearts of shoppers, 

the purple heart on the rear  of one fluffy pup 

symbolizing the affection of a wagging tail.

Step right up! Take a gamble! Don't pass by the chance

to win your sweetie's undying love ! Buy! Buy! Buy!

On one shelf, I saw clear plastic cartons, usually meant

for a dozen roses, that had been filled instead with

six cans of beer arranged on a bed of shell peanuts

and wrapped in a big red bow.

In the distance, I could hear a lone banjo

playing ...