So, it’s cold. Really cold. Painfully cold. The wind is relentless, and the temperatures are unbearable. How are we to dress up for our Valentine’s Day dates with temperatures like this? Everyone will look like fluffy marshmallows in their winter layers. Sexy marshmallows, but marshmallows nonetheless.

Outside may be cold, but our hearts are warm on this national day of love. Not all look forward to this particular day. Some feel it nothing but an obligation, others a painful reminder of their singleness, and the cynics another day to criticize. But there are Valentine’s Day lovers out there, somewhere, despite how socially unacceptable it is to look forward to and enjoy the day.

Excitement and enjoyment are easy to mock in the cold hearts of modern cynics. There is always that old notion that Valentine’s Day is merely a creation of the greeting card companies to increase profits. Even if it is, so what? Celebrations are meant to be fun, and if fun is had, who cares about supposed corporate greed.

After all, who doesn’t like flowers, chocolate, food, and love? Whether it is with your partner or on your own, it is still a day to celebrate the love you have in your life. Acknowledgment of love for your mate, your family, and yourself. What other day encourages this much chocolate consumption? And if you haven’t a valentine, in the words of Parks and Rec, Treat. Yo. Self.

And what better way than to treat yourself than a Carmel ride to your favorite dinner spot? And if you have a date, keep him or her warm, Carmel it to and from your date spot, you’ll be amply thanked. Temperatures are in the negatives, and you certainly do not want your Valentine to freeze.

So bring out the flowers, the chocolate, and the love. But make sure that there is time for your gifts to defrost. And of course, remember that nothing says love like a warm, and private (*wink-wink* *nudge-nudge*) Carmel ride!