Some people consider Valentine’s Day another of those Hallmark® cards holidays, the kind designed primarily to promote the sale of greeting cards, flowers, and chocolates. While I have a long list of “holidays” that fit that criterion, Valentine’s Day is not one of them.
When I was in grade school, it was great fun to buy those packages of cards, print the names of school friends on them, and exchange them during an afternoon party where mothers brought in homemade goodies and juice. Those prepackaged valentines even had one for the teacher. In fourth grade David Seymour gave me a valentine with and big X and a big O on it. To this day I remember him, and it’s fair to argue that his valentine is the reason why.
Earl and I have shared a decade of Valentine’s Days, and the celebrations have ranged from pricey to modest. One February 14, early on, I invited him to dinner at my apartment. I remember this, even though Earl brought no card with and X or an O, because he introduced me to the work of artist G. Harvey through a beautiful lithograph of Chicago’s Art Institute. It hangs in our home today. I, in turn, gave him a piece of Waterford crystal shaped like a baseball, down to the stitching that was etched into the glass. It too is displayed in our home.
This year there are no special gifts planned, only reservations for dinner for two at a local restaurant. We’ll probably reminisce a bit and most likely the concept of the Hallmark® holiday will surface. But I’ll hold fast to my opinion. For one thing, Valentine’s Day is older than I am, while most Hallmark ® holidays are not.
Leave a Reply