Ah, Valentine’s Day, a day couples celebrate and singles dread.

Last year I wrote about my “love” for this holiday. I can’t help myself, it’s just so temping to be cynical when it comes to Valentine’s Day, especially when you’re single.

Just one year ago, the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald’s “single” pool was a lot larger. With both our creative director and one of our staff writers (who are mentioned in the following column) moving on, the pool is more like a really small puddle now.

So in case you missed it, here it is again.

While bidding farewell to my two co-workers that were left at the News-Herald office on Valentine’s Day, I made a quirky remark.

“Remember, just because you’re single doesn’t mean you can not enjoy Valentine’s Day.”

I scowled internally as the phrase rolled off my tongue. This feeling was only compounded by the looks I received from Creative Director Amanda Bunch and my fellow Staff Writer Jennipher Dickens.

I smiled off the what-are-you-talking-about looks as I walked out the door.

I’m not sure where the comment came from as I can often show my cynical streak in the office (especially when someone calls up and wishes me a Happy Friday). On top of that, I should know better because just like Jennipher and Amanda B., I am single.

Single. The word is almost derogatory for some. It has a huge weight to it even though it’s just six little letters smushed together in one word.

Single. When you say it the social connotations and stigmas line right up behind it…unattached, rejected, discarded, not worthy of a relationship, not pretty enough, not committed.

Yeah, so it’s no big surprise when single girls don’t even acknowledge Valentine’s Day.

Wait, we do recognize it…in our own snarky, humorous way.

Example, only one classy single girl would give another a card stating Valentine’s Day is overrated.

You can bet a single girl coined the nickname “V-Day” for Valentine’s Day and find it sardonic that the initials for the holiday are V.D. (you might need a moment for that one).

And only a single girl would appreciate an older man asking her how she had escaped being married.

In days leading up to “V-Day” several ironic coincidences occurred. Most of them would have got any one down…but I took it lightly.

To begin with, as if my body is rejecting the whole idea of Valentine’s Day, I’ve been battling a bug all week and Tylenol, pajamas and my bed have been my only faithful companions.

On Tuesday night, while on an assignment, an older gentleman asked how I had escaped being married. I couldn’t help but laugh…a lot. I believe at some point this man gave up on receiving an answer and assumed it was because I was crazy.

I couldn’t help myself…the way he phrased the sentence, as if I had some how escaped Alcatraz.

Then right on V-Day came the real kicker when my aunt’s traditional Valentine’s gift was lost somewhere between here and New York.

My aunt always finds some creative way of sending a few chocolates and a card through the mail. Her package of choice this time…a bottle. Yep, a clear plastic bottle she had carefully decorated and stuffed with Valentine wishes.

I can only imagine the reason why it never made it to my house is because someone got really hungry during their shift.

Do not get me wrong, just like every other single girl I enjoy love stories and romance…but on V-Day, while the entire world is in rapture, that’s singles’ day to be contemptuous.

Example, we all coo when one of our married co-workers hangs up the phone after offering a “Hey baby” and “I love you too, baby” during a conversation with her husband.

And then, after a few moments, we all retch.

Amanda VanDerBroek is a Staff Writer for the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald. For comments and column suggestions email: amanda.vanderbroek@r-cnews.com or call (252) 332-7209.