I remember when I was growing up, Valentine’s Day was such an awesome holiday. It was one of my favorites that I looked forward to each year, the celebration of love. In elementary school we would decorate Kleenex boxes that would hold the Valentine’s Days cards we got from our classmates. My teacher had a rule that required you to give a note to everyone in the class. No one was to be left out, even the kid that ate glue, or the boy who for some reason, always smelled like pee.
I liked to decorate mine with candy conversation hearts that were stamped with sayings, such as “Be Mine”, “Kiss Me” or “Say Yes”. But now writing this blog, it has a little bit of a creepy vibe to it. Kind of like a 3rd grade “50 Shades of Grey” thing going on… I mean seriously, who thought of giving these sugary innuendos for children? Maybe it would have been better printing sayings such as, “Brush your teeth”, “Crack is Wack”, or “Don’t hit your sister”. Once again I am digressing…..
The night before the holiday, I would make my memos and label the envelope with each classmate’s name. Although I always put more effort into creating a stupendous card for my friends or the boy I had a crush on, I never forget to give a Valentine to the kid that reeked of pee.
As I grew up, and entered middle school, I saved up my allowance for the big Valentine’s Day gifts! I went to the local drug store and dished out money from a week’s worth of chores for a milk chocolate treat that stated “I (heart shape) U” with plans to give it to my boy crush the next day. But of course, my Dad found it stuffed in my backpack and had a cow. He wanted to believe that he had raised a daughter who wasn’t a floozy and did not run around town delivering provocative confections. Guess he was wrong…. Sorry Dad!
Now as an adult, I still adore Valentine’s Day. Maybe it’s the hearts, teddy bears, chocolate or perhaps it is something totally different. Some feel that it’s a holiday that seems forced or unnatural. If you are not in a relationship or not currently dating, it feels like everyone is in love and V-day was created just to remind you of what a loser you are and how you are doomed to walk the world alone. But on the other hand, if you do have someone special in your life, you are pressured to buy expensive flowers or head to your local Walgreens on your way home from work to buy a Valentine’s Day Card, and sift through the left-over heart-shaped boxes full of chocolate. But does that truly show your love for someone? Even deeper, what is “Love”?
The best definition of love that I have found is written by JoJo Moyes. She states, “What love is depends on where you are in relation to it. Secure in it, it can feel as mundane and necessary as air – you exist within it, almost unnoticing. Deprived of it, it can feel like an obsession; all-consuming, a physical pain. Love is the driver for all great stories: not just romantic love, but the love of parent for child, for family, for country. It is the point before consummation of it that fascinates: what separates you from love, the obstacles that stand in its way. It is usually at those points that love is everything.”
Love is everything. Although Valentine’s Day is not a gentle reminder… in fact, it’s an in your face, commercialized, cheap teddy bears and overpriced flowers day…. But it also gives us a chance to be grateful and this is why I just adore V-Day. It is a holiday that we celebrate love… it reminds us of those who give our lives meaning and that without their presence, we would not feel complete. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Such a nice reminder of ALL the folks who are lovers in our lives. We share the adventures and the burdens. I just had a nice lunch with my ex-wife and the mother of my children. We love each other in a still-meaningful-but-not-spouse-way. We support each other in our life journeys, including her patient listening to my litany of parkinsons woes(I was in OFF mode during lunch). I hope it’s two-ways, as I try to hear her stories.
Parkinson’s can be such an obsession. How do you keep up your spirits, Allison? I am trying to continue to work in my eighth year after diagnosis. What might be some ways you reach acceptance of Parkinson’s? I’m all ears.
I am going into my 8th year of diagnosis also and I feel some of the ways I have keptp my spritis up is by exercising regularly, continued to work, my dog crash (when you have to get up and care for something other than yourself) and keeping my Wolfpack strong. When I have a low moment, I stop and think of what I am grateful for. Also, it’s important to have something to look forward to… like my upcoming trip to Philly!
Allison,
You really know how to inspire people with the simplest of advice.
I hope your trip to Philly turns out successful in every way.
Wishing you tones of fun and memorable moments while your in Philly.
CHEERS!!!!
Cory
I am expecting that I will have great success in Philly! Looking forward to it!
I have heard that Philadelphia can be full of surprises and it’s has brought many people success.
Looking forward to hearing about your Philadelphia adventure through your next blog.
CHEERS!!!
Cory
I’m looking forward to the adventure!
Hi Perky Parkie,
Another interesting spin on a seasonal topic. I enjoy how thought provoking your posts are.
I have learned through my past relationships that people give, receive, feel and express love in very different way.
I have learned to get to know how that someone special receives love and gives love and to allow myself to show my someone special how I give and receive love. With that the two together can build a long lasting loving relationship together.
So for me on this Valentine’s Day, I an allowing my heart to be vulnerable to what it feels for that someone special and let the message it is sending speak for itself.
Wishing every one a wonderful Valentine’s Day filled with true vulnerable love.
Best regards,
Cory
Hope you have a vulnerable, yet lovely holiday.
Hi Perky Parkie,
I feel that the best type of love is raw wholehearted vulnerable love. To me that’s what “TRUE LOVE” is.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you.
CHEERS!!!!
I loved the positivity of your blog
Legend of Valentine
Roses are red Violets are blue
Mr Valentines here for you
All you single ladies don’t give him the finger
He might put a ring on it and linger
A poet with charm to disarm
Wants to share a heart that’s warm
Will transplant to you with no donor card
Hoping cupid will bring his reward
Turns names into anagrams of flattery
Reuse lines like rechargeable battery
At speed dating loves to mingle
Never wonders why still single
Has more cliches than red roses
Bad back from devil may care poses
Clears rooms with the miasma
Of an aftershave disaster
Uses vintage chat up lines
That are like corked red wine
Leaves an unpleasant taste
Innuendo gone to waste
In a suit out of fashion
More past it than passion
Complete with spare tyre
Has a car he should retire
God bless Mr Valentine
For love he does pine
Maybe he has a card for you
Maybe his dreams can come true
If nothing else he is a trier
If god loves that can you admire
Where is little Miss Valentine
Give this man a welcome sign
Though not perfect he will give
Everything while he lives
His love centre of his universe
A love that will not disperse
If you look for Mr Right
He may stand in plain sight
If you wait for Mr Perfect
May just lead to regret
So girls if you want romance
Give a guy that one chance
Maybe he will bring you fun
Maybe he will be the one
Love it! 💕💕
Thank you
Thought it might make you smile.
I am unfortunately not expecting any cards this year but maybe next year.I do wish everyone whether sinlge or in a relationship a Happy Valentines day
Love comes when another person (thing or acitivity) makes you happy, or relieves fear. Happiness arises from the flow of brain chemicals, the most notable being dopamine, oxytosin, endorphin and seratonin.
Love is how we “define” certain types and measures of sensations that result from the relationship between the parties.
There ya go. All explained. Your brain is now primed to experience V Day at its best.
Happy V Day.
Thank you for explaining Pete!
A day to give special ove to our caregivers. Living with a “Parkie” is not always easy. I drive my wife mad… And not always in a good way. Happy Valentines Day.
Same to you!
I think you got it right. I would add physical love can be an important component to feeling your heart swell with a special, unplanned moment. A bump, a hug, a squeeze, focus senses to meld with those liquid feelings flowing through the brain. Valentine’s Day is over-rated… look for the random connections and apply chocolate as required.
We love Valentines Day! My kids grew up having a so-called boy friend or girl friend since kindergarten. We even had a boy holding flowers, balloons and chocolates at our door! My daughter was only 11yrs. old (I could see his mother waiting in the car.) to makes things worse, he asked if she could come to his house for dinner!!! What was that Mother thinking? I’d call that a date! NO WAY. I let her keep the gifts, write a thank you card and tell him to call again in five years. As a result; “The Red Dinner” began! I surprise them with different theme’s each year, including games and of course prizes! The kids decide on the menu like: Pizza, red Gello and red colored milk or Spaghetti, salad covered in red ranch dressing and dessert, strawberry ice cream. The funniest meal was, red colored Fettuccine Alfredo..(it looked like we ate “road kill ” our mouths were stained bloody red!) We are having our 24th Valentines Red Dinner this year! Our four grand kids love looking like Vampires with red stained teeth. The best part is, my family comes home every Valentines Day! I can’t think of a better way to spend the Day! My hubby loves this idea, no pressure to make the plans.!!