Celebrate National Singles Week

— -- Nobody sent me a card, but it's National Singles Week — a time for mothers, fathers and everyone else to appreciate their unmarried friends.

Some people might think that National Singles Week is a bogus event created by the greeting card industry, after failing to launch Second Cousins Day.

Others might say unmarried people don't need a holiday — they can celebrate their unyoked freedom every day of their lives.

The truth is, National Singles Week was started in Ohio back in 1984 to appreciate the growing ranks of unmarried Americans, who are now 96 million strong, or 43 percent of the U.S. population age 15 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Why should we celebrate singlehood? For one thing, it was once considered a shame to grow old without a spouse. Nowadays, two out of every three single people have never wed. Unmarried Americans deserve a day of national recognition.

Singlehood might not require the same sacrifices as parenthood. But let's consider that 12.2 million Americans are single parents, and their jobs as mothers and fathers are doubly difficult.

I say singlehood is cause to celebrate, and I plan to honor the holiday by taking my girlfriend out to dinner. Who knows? We might not be single forever.

Let's just consider National Singles Week a second Valentine's Day, especially for those of us who stay single far into adulthood.

And for those of us who can appreciate the increasingly complicated world of dating, check out these developments in the ritual of courtship.

1. Talking Flower Bouquets: Want to really look rosy? Just have your picture emblazoned on a rose petal. The technology exists.

At SpeakingRoses.com, they've patented a process that will allow you to print anything you wish on a flower petal. Want to say, "I love you" with roses? Now you really can.