Cupid, draw back your bow...

And let your arrow go, straight to the internet... for me. No, I am not looking for love on line, although in this day and age, apparently it is possible. My web search revolved around the origins of Valentine’s day, since, until today, I was under the impression that the holiday had been created by some greeting card company to annoy me.

Apparently (for something completely different) I was mistaken. Surfing the net is (in my humble opinion) always informative, often entertaining and sometimes downright educational. Just as I was gearing up to be aggravated that yet another holiday is excluding me (and all single people in general) I discovered a primer on all things Valentine.

According to the web site essortment.com , Valentine’s Day originated in ancient Rome and was a holiday to honor Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. The information site goes on to say that the holiday was actually celebrated on February 14, the eve of the “Feast of Lupercalia” during a time when boys and girls were segregated.

“Girls’ names were written on pieces of paper and inserted into jars. Each boy then drew a girl’s name from the jar and they were partnered throughout the festival. After being paired, the children would often continue to see each other through the year and on occasion even fell in love and got married.”

Go figure. Armed with this newly acquired history lesson, I feel less inclined to be Bitter and Lonely (attorneys at law, specializing in divorce) and more open to seeing what’s out there in the way of Valentine celebrations. My first search brought me to the Alliance Gallery ( artsalliancesite.org ) in Narrowsburg, NY, where love is definitely in the air. “Be Mine Too,” an exhibition of love poems, photos and collages, premiered this past weekend and runs through February 20.

Fourteen artists and 14 poets combined their talents to create the exhibit, with guidance from local poet Mary Greene and museum curator Rocky Pinciotti. The gallery is filled with beautiful works of art and 13 of the poets were on hand to recite their work, based on the concept of true love, which can take many forms.

I was literally moved to tears by some of the work and, thankfully, didn’t feel bitter or lonely in the least. Upstairs in the Loft Gallery, more love was being expressed as “Committee of Two” Sharon Hecht and Nancy Wells were sharing their compassion for all mankind, creating the Haitian Art Sale Fundraiser with over 30 works of art on sale to support Haitian relief victims through the organization Doctors Without Borders.

All of the artwork was donated to support the effort and can still be seen and purchased, so it’s not too late to be a part of this worthy and loving cause. For more information call 845/252-7576.

Meanwhile, the internet also informed me that the Catskill Artists Gallery ( catskillartistsgallery.com ) will be hosting its annual dessert party on Saturday, February 13 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 38 South Main Street in Liberty, NY. Its press release informs that “While munching sweets, one can look for that special something for your sweetie.” (Hmmph.) Unique, handmade gifts in all styles and price ranges—jewelry, glass, pottery and more—will be on display for purchase, and I will be stopping by (apparently alone) to check out the scene personally. But as usual, don’t let that stop you from attending.

My web search continued to inform as I discovered that “Valentine’s Day greetings became popular during the middle ages” (around the time I was born) and that lovers sang or spoke their sentiments. Paper Valentines became popular at the end of the 15th century (while I was in college). The oldest Valentine that exists today was made during this era, and is on display in the British Museum.

Although some folks continue to lovingly create hand made cards, Valentines began to be manufactured during the 1800s (yes, I was single then) and millions of cards are exchanged annually on a global basis. Hmmph.

There is enough information out there on the “internet highway of love” to fill several books and I would continue, were it not for the Bitter and Lonely clause in my contract. I will (as always) send out a few cards on behalf of Cupid himself, but will tread lightly, not expecting my mailbox to be bursting with love come next week.

Who knows? Maybe (for something completely different) I’ll be mistaken. After all, stranger things have happened.