For years I disliked Valentine’s Day. I wasn’t a complete hater. I just found it annoying to be reminded that I was dateless. Of course having someone special helped to change my perspective, but it was more than that. I started to remember The Peanuts (which is pretty much the Zen master on life, if you ask me). Charlie brown and his red haired girl, Linus and Lucy, Snoopy and Woodstock. It’s a pure holiday, meant to remind us how sweet a playground crush can be.

Sure, there’s all the trite commercialism people complain about. I hate that the heart-shaped candy boxes go on the shelf Dec. 27. Show a little restraint people! The body isn’t even cold yet. But there’s that other side of Valentine’s day. Beyond anything you can buy in the store, it’s sentiment.

So, celebrate the schmaltz. Revel in the romance. And let the love linger a little longer than just one day.