Wayyy Too Early for Valentine's Day Displays, West Hartford Town Council, Alyssa Reaves Day

Good morning, West Hartford! Today is Monday, Jan. 13, 2014; there are 352 days left in the year.

Time was when Valentine’s Day candy didn’t rear its ugly head until the start of February. Maybe the last week in January, if retailers were really hard up for extra cash.

Not any more.

Behold my photo, taken a few days after Christmas.

Kids, I love candy more than you know. In 1998, I tried to marry a Snickers bar (my Sweetie. Get it? Ha! Zing! Wait… where are you going?). But this transition from one holiday to the next without any down time is problematic on any number of levels.

When I was in school, Valentine’s was a major stressor, as you either had to buy cards (with candy) for everyone, or no one at all. And, for boys, the cards had to sufficiently convey masculinity so as to render the meaning behind said Valentine completely devoid of any meaning. “One Day I’d Like to go Hunting With You” was the top-selling card for the boys in my fourth-grade class.

Why would you want to accelerate that kind awkwardness?

Not that it’s so bad. They now have Star Wars Valentine’s Day Cards. I’m gonna get a couple for my wife. Because she’s a lucky woman.

Here are five things going on in West Hartford this week:

1. The Town Council is scheduled to meet on Jan. 14.

2. A bagel breakfast is scheduled for Jan. 14 at 9 a.m. at the West Hartford Senior Center.

3. Meet John Phillips, director of the West Hartford Public Works, on Jan. 15 at the West Hartford Senior Center at 9 a.m.

4. The Asylum Quartet will present a concert of classical, contemporary, and world music on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at J. René Coffee Roasters, 320 Park Road.