After the process of making the sugary Valentine Treat for Nuts About Southwest, I decided to give in to temptation and try a couple of the traditional Valentine candies. After popping a couple in my mouth, I realized how deceptive the cute little hearts really are. The pastel colors and sweet sayings give the appearance that they would break apart peacefully in your mouth. After almost chipping my tooth on the first bite and realizing they tasted more like chalky chewable vitamins, I decided to give up on my snack and just read the sayings a little closer.

I was surprised with what I found. There were the traditional sayings that everyone remembers from elementary school. Things like “Be Mine,” “Kiss Me,” and “True Love.” The ones you’d never want to give to your classmates of the opposite sex. But looking closer, I noticed that some of the sweethearts (although not so sweet, as I mentioned, and am still a little bitter about) sayings were not a part of my memories and spoke of the world today. Things very sarcastic like “Get Real,” and “I’m Sure,” which everyone has heard from or said as a teenager. There was also a “Got Love?” candy, an obvious play on the “Got Milk?â€? campaign. But the ones I found most interesting were a series of hearts that read, “Call Me,” “Fax Me,” and even “Email Me.” I saw even more hearts with the abbreviated language used for instant and text messaging. It amazes me how technology is so intertwined in our society that it is reflected in these simple little (not so sweet) Valentine candies.