Cupid's Confusing Color

(photo: Valentine's Day roombox, built by me when I had more time)

Do you remember the good ol’ days when you couldn’t wait to receive a valentine from your childhood crush?

Back in the '60s when I was in grade school, February 14 was an exciting day.  Teacher would have us color a big red heart on a paper lunch bag, write our name at the top and then add it to the lineup on the classroom windowsill.  During the week before Valentine's Day, we would fill each bag with our tiny store-bought valentines, usually something depicting a  puppy or kitty holding a red heart in their mouth.  My favorites were the puffy ones that felt like velvet.  They were more expensive so when you got one of those, you felt you had found the Holy Grail because the sender thought you were someone really special!   

Red is the official valentine color, although pink, white and even purple are supporting players in some Valentine's Day cards and displays.  Red represents a myriad of emotions like love, passion, energy, survival, materialism and anger.  But in my humble opinion, red can be a confusing color because it is constantly giving us mixed signals.  How else would you describe a color that motivates us to get up and get moving, then stops us at traffic lights?    

Red is pure, hot emotion that may arouse both good and bad feelings, particularly in the bedroom.   Passionate Red might swoon: "I want you now, let's go for it!"  However,  Angry Red might respond: "Not now, I have a headache and I mean it, so stop."  Both parties are feeling red, yet both are experiencing completely different emotions from this earthy vibration.

Are you looking for love in all the usual places but Cupid's arrow has yet to strike?  Fear not, as I have a dozen red-hot tips to help you feel the love:

1. Wear a siren red dress. (This tip usually works for women only.) 
2. Lounge, sleep (or whatever) on a bed of red, silky sheets.
3. Wear bright, take-no-prisoners red lipstick. (Not recommended for men, but who knows?) 
4. Display dozens of vases filled with dozens of red roses.
5. Light dozens of red candles.
6. Douse yourself with cologne containing red-related scents like cinnamon or red rose.
7. Frost yourself in arousing red gemstones like garnet and ruby.
8. Take a bubble bath with red rose petals.
9. Crank up the primal red music with lots of bass and drums.
10. Drink red wine and eat an all-red dessert containing juicy red cherries and strawberries.
11. Replace your regular lightbulbs with come-hither red ones.
12. Paint your fingernails and toenails a glossy, vamp red.

"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon." 
~ Author Unknown