So I'm eating Sunday dinner with my family and I'm sitting across the "Teenager Table" from my cousin Amanda who is seventeen. While chewing on the deeeelicious chicken taquitos and rice, I notice the necklace Amanda is wearing. I stop, stare, and finally ask,

"Does that necklace seriously say I love you?"

Amanda giggled and said, "Yes."

"Who gave that to you?"

"Duh, my boyfriend _____" (don't know or really care about his name.)

The rest of the table continues eating, and I look around to see if there are any faces as incredulous as mine.

"... So he loves you huh?"

"Well YEAH, we've been dating since like, September."

I took a moment to count that length in my head, four whole months. Wow.

My cynicism almost got the best of me, I almost told her that that necklace was silly and tacky and probably devoid of real meaning, of real "love", but I kept my mouth shut. I'm sure the tone of my voice made it clear to the others at the table, but Amanda was beaming.

I wonder if my cynicism stems from the fact that the words "I love you" from a guy were never ever typed, texted, or written down for me. Or if the first time it was whispered in my ear was because I was mad at the loser for wanting to pop a caffeine pill and drink lots of beer (at age 17, this was terrifying for me) but when he said those words, 17 year old Karen beamed and believed it and didn't let it go. Maybe it's because I've never received any jewelry from a guy before, much less a freaking heart necklace that says "I love you."

For some reason, it sickened me. I scoffed, and here I am writing about it. I guess I just think "I love you" should mean more than just being proclaimed through jewelry or whispered in my ear to make everything okay. But what do I know, anyway.