~=:Valentine’s- YAY!!

Valentine’s was always a big thing in my house.  It wasn’t only the making of the classroom Heart Covered Mail Box and the careful choosing of kitty and puppy valentines for friends.  It was a family thing.  I don’t know who chose the Valentines for us, or when the fancy cards started, but my parents always made sure I had a lacy Victorian fancy dancy card.  Or a really funny one.  Or both.  And I loved them.  And I still have them in my scrap book.   And my dad always brought home really significant and interesting little gifts from the city – like the carved wooden Don Quixote, or the Israeli Farmers, or the little bitty troll doll that I wanted like crazy in junior high, the one with the neon hair.  He bought one for Kev and one for me, and wrote their names on their tummies: Val and Tiny.  I keep all of them in a little case upstairs.  So I can remember who I am.

Later, when I was married and had kids of my own to delight, Mom always remembered me and sent me something: a tiny tin with chocolate in it, a candle shaped like an orange.  Small surprises for young mothers go a long, long way.

So we used to haul out the bright red plates and put a heart doily on each and sprinkle everything with tiny red and silver and gold hearts.  And put a tiny red candy box in the middle.  And hang tiny cupid’s arrows made out of toothpicks and construction paper from lamps and doorways.  And I drew cards.  Every year.  Like the one below, except they were paper, so I could cut out the middle and show the red heart on the inside of the card.  And there were always these cool, floating balloons tied to the back of each chair – heart shaped.  And G got me flowers and candy and left me tiny french notes.

Just little things.  Little important things.  But now, it’s just G and me.  And Chaz comes.  And C and Lorri bring the Scoots over.  And today, I just want to go to bed.  But that’s okay.  Because my Valentines are taking care of me.  Making the house look good for the fam.  Making dinner.  And sneaking me flowers.  And See’s candy.

And more Valentines will be coming to visit tomorrow.

So here is my Valentine for you~

And here is the Valentine my Ginna crocheted for me:

The background went all wonky on me.  Don’t know why.  And I’m too droopy to find out.

Thank you Char.

Thank you, G.

Thank you Gin.

Thank you, Mom.

Thank you, Daddy.

I love Valentine’s day.