Confession of a Single on Valentine's
Vu Quynh Anh

After that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.” (Carrie Bradshaw) (Thanks anh TA for blogging this quote)


For the past twenty-two years, Valentine has always been the day for me to enjoy my singledom, sustain my long-distant relationship, or celebrate my friendships. Roses, dinners, movies…somehow are all foreign concepts to me. But year after year, as soon as the calendar turns its page to February, I feel excited. Even the yuckiest weather, like the one in New York yesterday, can hardly prevent me from smelling love in the air and conserving warmth in my heart.


I think Love is one of the greatest things on earth. It connects two independent souls and makes them become one. And Valentine's Day is a special day since it reminds us that Yes, "Happily Ever After" does not only exist in fairy tales. On this day, lovers can feel special about themselves, take pride on their happy journey together, and shower each other with love and affection. New couples look forward to the future while old couples reminisce the past.


Valentine is the one day that I find some Charlotte York in me. I like and tend to believe that there is always someone out there. They might not be handsome like Jimmy Tun, artistic like Samuel Hoang, or funny and cool like XLinh Le. No matter how hard they try, they do not appear as your ideal soul mate. They might not even love you the way you want. But they are the one who sincerely says: "For better or for worse, I wanna to grow old with you!" Passing by a flower shop today, I couldn't help looking and smiling at an old man carefully picking out a dozen of roses for his wife. Seeing this couple celebrate their 40th or 50th Valentine together made me believe that "Love isn't in the falling, Love is in the staying there". So now, hats off to my favorite couples of the year (u Diep/thay Phi, Pan babe/a. Duc, Thanh Ha/ GB, Tre/Sonny, and BL/Dung) Congrats you guys on making it till this day…


And for singles or recent breaking-up victims, like you and me, should Valentine become the Single Awareness Day- the day to hide in our room, eat canned soup and watch TV shows like Desperate Housewives? Well, I might have done so three or four Valentines ago, but not anymore, and not this year. Being 23, I have learnt better. I've learnt to enjoy my life no matter where I am. I've learnt to have a positive attitude no matter how dull the future might look. And, more importantly, I've learnt to love and appreciate myself no matter what others might think.


Year after year, Valentine after Valentine, I long for that special someone to bring me a bouquet of red roses and a forever love. I believe the day will soon come...and meanwhile, on this very Valentine, I will be watching Step Up 2 with friends, sipping a little Champagne, biting a made-in-England chocolate, and enjoying the "most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all" - the one I have with myself.


Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!
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SATC S07E01 "Lost and Found"
Vu Quynh Anh

Apartments, Jobs, Boys, Restaurants, Dresses...That's the thing about New York- where you thought everything is plenty and available, you found none- and suddenly in a blink of an eye, they showed up...perfectly and exactly what you were looking for. That night, we did it in style: glamorous outfits, fancy dinner, great cocktails, the Movie and Manhattan. It couldn't be any more fabulous.


But then the infamous "You-can't-have-it-all" struck me. I can't help but wonder, in a city where you find too many fabulous things: a spacious apartment, a 9-5 job, a world famous restaurant, a pretty Prada dress, and now five tickets to the hottest movie at the last minute... what do you have to lose?


As for me, besides sweatshirts, car rides, mall trips and good night sleeps, I cowardly blamed New York for making me lose some of my most precious friendships. The fast pace, the distraction and the city have somehow stopped me from having get-togethers, hosting phone conferences and making special birthday presents.


I instead let strangers come into my life, and turn themselves into a big part of it. I convinced myself that it’s the Big Apple’s fault for kicking us out of each other’s world…But not only me… you also have your own city, your own life, and your own excuse. It’s the fact, and I have accepted my loss.


But on this very special occasion, it is especially comforting to know that in another city, how much somebody is still thinking about you and wishing to be there with you.


The precious thing that you lost, has somehow found the way back. And it is not the thing about New York or any city. It is the thing about Life and great Friendships.


Sometimes, all we need is another episode of “Sex and the city” to bring us all back together.

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