Lots going on. Mardi Gras, which Episcopalians generally call Shrove Tuesday and eat pancakes. Oregon Statehood Day. Ash Wednesday. Lots of folks “give up” chocolate for Lent. Perhaps a real sacrifice since this year Lent starts the day before Valentine’s Day.
For Statehood Day, I put out the flag.
For Valentine’s Day, about all I do is arrange a few seasonal things on the chest in the front hall.
But Mary-Margaret’s first year in college, she drove across The Bay for a little quality time with her mama and we cooked up some over-the-top treats. It’s pretty much been down hill since then.
I remember Valentine’s Day in First Grade. I was in Mrs. Hughes’s class in Healdton, Oklahoma. Our class had one big Valentine box. We got a man’s hat box from Edith Tayar, who worked in her father’s dry goods and clothing shop down town. We decorated it with crepe paper and cut a slot in the top. A lot of the children in my class were too poor to be able buy any cards to put in the box. Mrs. Hughes gave out red and white paper scraps and and some paste for them to use. I got to buy a booklet of punch-out ones and give one to everyone. I remember that it took me a long time to print everyone’s name on each one. Even then, I could see that this day was not a favorite one for a good number of people.
Last year, late in the day on February 14, I was, as I often am, in Fred Meyer’s picking up a few things. I could see there were a lot of men in there on their way home from work. I must tell you that none of them seemed to be enjoying himself very much as he loaded up his basket with flowers, candy, perfume, champagne, underwear, and, possibly, jewelry, real or costume. And an expensive card. It was as though he couldn’t go home unless armed with all this stuff. And maybe in return he would receive something from this display.
I don’t mean to be cynical, but romance orchestrated by Victoria’s Secret and Hallmark seems a bit faux. Understatement has a certain appeal. A single sweet kiss comes to mind.
And sending love from 1880.
