Today, Catholics are marking a noble occasion while the heart-shaped box of chocolates industry slogs through its busiest time of year. For the first time since 1945, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day, which explains why I walked into church this morning to find the floor covered with palm ashes and candy hearts reading, “Luv U.”

It’s been a busy year for all of us. As you can see, I was apparently, although briefly, engaged. Never mind that ring technically belongs to a lady at the table who was engaged to an associate. It doesn’t matter. Also, she probably shouldn’t be letting dudes try on her ring.

But this confluence of days that feel ways about things is causing a stir. The Catholic Church has warned that we’re not getting special privileges this year [although the Bishop of Buffalo really did gently encourage everyone to get Valentine’s Day out of their system a day early and celebrate Mardi Gras even harder].

But this is not a holiday everyone looks forward to. According to a TV show starring that woman I probably should stop thinking about as “That Actress From Spin City,” Valentine’s Day is nearly fatal to women.

One morning this week, I got a text from someone who works in public relations for one of the hospital groups in the area. She was asking if I wanted to interview a cardiologist [a cardiologist!] because “Broken Heart Syndrome” is a real thing. It’s most common in women in their 60s or 70s who’ve lost a loved one, not Hollywood actors.

For instance, on 9-1-1, a woman passed out and needed paramedics because her boyfriend proposed unexpectedly. I feel like when that happens in real life, paramedics wouldn’t show up and then, and this really happened on the show, stop treatment as soon as the woman regains consciousness and back away so the guy can propose.

Or maybe I’m not romantic enough.

I only recently learned the term, “ghosting,” for example. Another public relations person texted about another story. She said she had sent a couple emails, but I wasn’t responding. I explained that I changed stations and gave her my new email address. She responded happily, saying she was worried I had “ghosted” her.

Even though I’m hip and “with it,” I had to look up what “ghosted” meant. Then I started working that into other texts when associates did not respond as quickly as I’d like.

Now, I’m concerned how many public relations people think they’ve been “ghosted” over the past four months. Never mind that I keep putting quotes around “ghosted.” That does not make me old fashioned. I’m totally hip and “with it.”

So “with it” that this Lent, I’m giving up referring to Connie Britton as That Actress from a Show That Went Off the Air 15 Years Ago. I also enjoyed her in Friday Night Lights, which only went off the air seven years ago. She also makes an appearance on the TV review page for her part in American Horror Story roughly six years ago. This blog’s been around a while.

On another note, feel free to email me ideas for what would be printed on a candy heart for Catholics.