I’ll admit an embarrassing fact — I’ve been single every Valentine’s Day since I was born. It’s fine, honestly. To me, Valentine’s Day is just Saturday.

I’m not planning on crying into a bottle of wine while watching that video circulating that combines all of Severus Snape’s notable moments in the Harry Potter series (although I totally could, and it would not say anything about my thoughts on the holiday or my own confidence in my love life, thankyouverymuch).

But I get that, you know, it’s kind of a big deal for a lot of people. I’m not going to ruin it for you with a pity party for single people or a crusade against yet another consumerist holiday.

It’s nice, the idea that there’s a special day just to remind you about your special someone (or utter lack thereof).

For our second special issue of the year, The Daily Beacon staff knew we had to dedicate a paper to this most controversial of holidays. More importantly, we wanted to cover as many different aspects of St. Valentine as possible.

So in this issue you’ll see Tinder and Grindr and long distance relationships and cheap date ideas — everything you need to know to make the best of a day destined to end in disappointment because you probably set ridiculously high standards for just like one day out of the year that really doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

But yeah, so we have Galentine’s Day ideas and an erotic novel book review. And definitely make sure you check out our new social media editor Alexandra Chiasson’s hilarious horoscopes (fellow Leos, beware of a new interest with a foot fetish).

But all cynicism aside, my favorite piece in this issue is a letter from UT English professor Marilyn Kallet about waiting for love. She writes to her younger self, writes about waiting and making it on your own before committing to another person. She writes about how beautiful and meaningful it is when they finally come into your life, almost as if by accident, and decide to stay (and recently celebrate a 30th wedding anniversary!).

It’s a good lesson, no matter what your relationship status is come Saturday: Wait. Appreciate where you are now. Appreciate who you are now.

So here’s to the couples, whether it’s been two months or two years or you just met on Tinder. And to the singles, live up your Saturday night like it’s 1999.

Also I hear Sex Week is passing out condom roses on Friday on Pedestrian Walkway. So there’s that.