Valentine’s Day...What do we really know about Valentine’s Day? What does it mean to us? In today's Modern Times we associate Valentine’s Day as a day of LOVE!!! It is a day when you tell your loved ones (partner, spouse, children, etc.) how much you love them.
The origin of Valentine’s Day comes from numerous St. Valentines throughout history. One was named Valentinus, circa 3rd century, was probably the most popular that is associated with Valentine’s Day. Valentinus was imprisoned for performing marriage ceremonies for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians. Legend has it that before his execution, on February 14th, that he wrote "from you Valentine" as a farewell to the daughter, a girl he is said to have healed, of his jailer Asterius.
It wasn't until Chaucer in the High Middle Ages that Valentine’s Day was associated with romantic love. By the 15th Century St Valentines’ Day had evolved in to a day in which lovers expressed their love for each other with flowers, candy, handwritten cards, etc.
Today in Modern Times Valentine’s Day is celebrated by children and adults. Children are encouraged to exchange cute greeting cards, candy, cards, stickers, and more among their classmates.
I remember one of my very first Valentine Days I celebrated in Kindergarten. We covered shoe boxes with red and pink construction paper, wrote our names on the box, cut out and pasted hearts and paper doilies on the box. I had a little boyfriend, his name was Jimmy. I was so excited to declare my love with a very big homemade heart along with my store bought cards that came in a box with their on envelopes. Mt favorite part of the process was licking the glue on the envelope and sealing it shut.
As I got older, the most important part of going through the Valentines Cards and selecting the right one for the right person. I wanted to make sure that I did not give one too mushy sounding to a boy I did not like that much, but I also wanted to make sure that I picked out the best one for the boy I did like.
Growing up and going into the teen years I never had a boyfriend at Valentine’s Day.
In 1992, 21 years ago, Valentine’s Day took on a different meaning. It was the day that my father passed away. My mother, sister and I stood in his hospital room and watched as he took his last breath. A little sadness as well as relief overcame me. The sadness was that I had lost my father that I had loved so dearly as a little child, but as I had gotten older we had drifted far apart. I never had the father daughter relationship that so many of my friends had. I had not heard him tell me that he loved me since I was a very little girl. The sadness was that he left this world without telling me, a 40 year old woman, that he loved me. I had told him earlier that morning before his passing that "I Loved him, and it was okay to go now!" It was heart breaking to not know if he loved me or not. It was shortly after that when the doctor called us in and asked if we wanted to be there when he passed. The relief was that he had gone on to his after life and that he would no longer be in pain. It was on that day that I made a promise to God and myself that I would never let my children wonder if I loved them. I had decided that I would tell them often how much I love them and how much it meant for them to be in my life.
My first husband never celebrated Valentine's Day sayimg, "It was a man made holiday in order to take more money from me. I am not going to bow down to this man made holiday." How sad for me.
In 1997 I met my soul mate. On February 13, 1998, the day before Valentine’s Day, we went to see "Titanic", a bitter sweet love story.
Four years ago today he asked me to marry him. What a fabulous surprise. The day started as if it were any normal Valentine’s Day! Well almost, generally I received my dozen roses at work. This particular day was on a Saturday morning. I woke up to 1 dozen roses in a vase on the dining room table. They were so beautiful. Later that day as we started out for dinner Duane presented me with a single rose saying, "This is for the first house that we bought together." We drove to the Golden Mum where he handed me another single rose, "This is for our first date." Then off to our first home together another rose and he said, "This is for our first home together." Then he drove to the apartment building where he lived when we first met and yes another rose, "This is for where I first told you I loved you." Then to the Silverdale Waterfront where he presented me with the last 2 roses and said, "This is for the day I proposed...Will you marry me?" Then he presented the engagement ring. I was so taken back and overwhelmed with the whole presentation it took me a moment to respond. "Yes...yes I will." Then we were off to the Yacht Club Broiler for a romantic dinner.
This leads me to this morning. I got up as usual, got ready, let Bear out, and turned around to see him with a little grin on his face. I asked him what he was doing up. He looked toward the table where a dozen red roses with greenery and baby's breath in a beautiful red vase sat. I was so excited. What a special day. This man never ceases to amaze me!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
