1. Like most special events experienced as a child, Valentine's Day was primarily about the loot.
2. Chocolates weren't seen as lazy or generic gifts; they were SO EXCITING OMG CANDY CANDY CANDY.
3. No one was worried about how they were going to make up for all of these treats at the gym on Feb. 15.
4. The holiday was also an excuse for some arts and crafts.
5. Getting "mail" felt exciting and grown-up, because you hadn't learned about bills yet.
6. The valentine cards themselves were better.
7. You could be as weird as your creepy little heart desired and it was all good.
8. And you were guaranteed not just one, but anywhere from 20 to 30 cards.
9. Scouring the Valentine's Day aisle at your local drug store for the perfect set of cards was thrilling.
10. It was an absolutely zero-pressure occasion; literally all you had to do was sign your name and then reap the rewards.
11. The biggest decision you had to make was whether you would sign the card "From" or "Love."
12. You were too young to develop unrealistic expectations for your crush.
It wasn't until high school that you started hoping for the card, plus the coveted candy gram, plus the grand gesture in the middle of class in which your crush's love is professed in front of your peers.
13. Exchanging with mom, dad, or grandma wasn't depressing yet.
14. You had vague and optimistic ideas about what grown-up Valentine's Day would look like.
15. And you were blissfully unaware of the fact that your future V-Days would be spent mostly with your sweatpants, some wine, a personal pizza, and your copy of When Harry Met Sally.
