Ferris wheels, not chocolate and roses

Feb. 14 is fast approaching. With it comes one of my favorite holidays: National Ferris Wheel Day.

This special holiday commemorates the birthday of the inventor of the Ferris wheel, George Washington Ferris, Jr. So go, enjoy the wonders that these magnificent wheels in the sky have to offer.

What better way could someone spend Feb. 14 than by enclosing themselves within a metal box and vaulting themselves hundreds of feet into air?

Some might argue that chocolates, flowers and maybe even a romantic candlelit dinner might be better suited for Feb. 14.

After all, it is Valentine’s Day.  

But why should Valentine’s Day take precedence over the clearly superior

Ferris wheel Day? Why is Feb. 14 synonymous with Cupid and pink hearts instead of the masterful testament of human engineering that is the Ferris wheel?

I suppose a large factor could possibly be that Valentine’s Day may generate a heftier profit than what the Ferris wheel industry can expect.

In February, you don’t see too many commercials to go ride a Ferris wheel. You do, on the other hand, see a nonstop, never-ending, ceaseless push for lusciously red rose bouquets, elegant boxes of chocolate and of course, the money maker, diamonds.

Diamonds of all shapes and sizes, with necklaces, pendants and the indubitable diamond ring. And guess what? They import these sparkling diamonds directly from their source in some foreign location. This cuts out the middle man and saves you money!

To be honest, I didn’t even realize it was February until these commercials came on. It was almost as if a switch was flipped on the first of the month. What was once the usual forgettable drivel of a commercial break was replaced with every other advertisement pertaining to a different brand of boxed chocolates.

If your significant other wants chocolate, go get them a Hershey’s bar. Or better yet, take a trip and go ride a Ferris wheel.

It’s unfortunate that nothing quite says “I love you” more than some overpriced box full of exotic chocolates that probably won’t get finished anyway.

I’m not sure when Valentine’s Day became about these cliché gifts, or maybe, that was all it was ever about. Regardless, I don’t see how these gifts are supposed to represent the love you have for your significant other.

Why do we need a day dedicated to show our significant other that we care for them? Shouldn’t we do that every day?

Instead of falling for society’s gambit, I’d wager that our time could be better spent admiring a city skyline atop the crest of a Ferris wheel.

­— andsamps@indiana.edu