I have spent the past two days making valentines to send to our grandchildren. I love to make cards. I love to send cards. Yes, it would probably make a lot more sense to just go to Dollar Tree and buy the cards (and by the way, Dollar Tree does have an excellent 2 for $1.00 card selection) and it would certainly not be as costly as the art supplies I love so much and buy so often, but, as I already said, I love making cards.
For many Valentine’s Day is a very romantic holiday. In the past I, too, have been gifted with flowers and chocolate and yes, that is always lovely. Always. When our daughter started teaching second grade, she was astounded by the plethora of candy-filled hearts and cards she received for Valentine’s Day from her students. I think second graders can drive you crazy but they also seem to have an uncanny and sweet ability to show their love.
These days I think of Valentine’s Day as a wonderful opportunity to let a few special people in our lives know that we love them. I will be honest and share that we usually tuck a bit of cash into the cards heading to our grandchildren, but I hope one day they will come to see the card as meaningful as the cash. That will probably be long after I have departed the planet. But that’s okay. I had an aunt who always included $5 in any card she sent to anyone in the family. It didn’t matter if I was 12 or 22 or 42 years old, there was always that five dollar bill tucked inside her card. She did not have a lot of money so I realized that her gift of that five dollar bill was a very loving, almost extravagant gesture.
Growing up, when I was in elementary school, we made special paper pockets to hang in the classroom. Each of us made our own and decorated it. Once the pockets were completed, they were taped to the chalk trays beneath the chalk boards around the classroom. We each had our spot. We brought in valentines to give to our classmates. I think it was a good rule that you could not give valentines to just your best friends; if you gave valentines you had to give one to every person in the class. It was a wonderful lesson in inclusion and kindness. I doubt the teacher checked after us, but I always thought it was nice that everyone would have lots of valentines in their paper pockets.
I don’t remember making my own valentines as a child, but it was a big occasion to go to the store with my mother and pick out the valentines you were going to give your classmates that year. I think there are more “themed” valentines these days (Star Wars, Barbie, etc.) but in my childhood they were pretty standard heart themes, often with puns or jokes. I collect images (digital) of these cards because I just love the memories they bring back. There are a few of these images sprinkled in this blog.
Many believe there really was a Saint Valentine and over time he has become known as the patron saint “of lovers, bee keepers, and epilepsy”. I am not sure how these three very different groups got assigned to Saint Valentine (and I leave it to you to check out Wikipedia or an old fashioned encyclopedia to perhaps find out). In brief, according to what is written, St. Valentine was a third century Roman who would eventually be martyred for preaching Jesus when he had been told by the Emperor to cease and desist. Prior to his death he sent a card to a young woman and signed it “your Valentine” which lets us know that Valentine was his name and this gesture was considered one of love.
It seems in these tumultuous times we could all use a little more love and we could all benefit from taking a moment to send a valentine to someone—grandchild, child, friend, yes, even a foe—to let them know that we think about them and love them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we each still made a colorful paper pocket and placed them on our door knowing that on the morning of February 14th they would overflow with the valentines from those who loved us and even those who didn’t?
So to all who are reading this blog, I say, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!! You really are TOPS on my HIT PARADE!! XXOOXX
I had a $5 Aunt too. . . SO precious!! And in my classes, we decorated shoe boxes with a mail slot to hold our valentines, adorned with flourishes of crepe paper ruffles!! Happy Valentine's Day to you and Tom!
2 good 2 B 4 gotten ❤️❤️