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| Flowers and cards. Bob's card was expensive, but he plans to change the date and use it next year. Mine, on the right, was made with card-making materials I always have on hand. |
Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday, way too commercialized and frothy for my taste. Still, it's a mid-winter break I've enjoyed since I started making valentines as a craft-loving little girl. It was fun to exchange the sentimental, sometimes corny cards with classmates in my hometown of Temiscaming. We bought them at the drugstore, in thin packages or books of cut-outs,with little envelopes that didn't seal. My mother Mary Ryan, godmother Catherine Lynn, neighbor Mamie Forde, Nana Mary Macpherson and Aunt Marie Macpherson all got the home-made ones, made with construction paper and decorated with bright glitter or sequins.
It's a day that always seems to take many men by surprise every year. The poor tortured schmucks wring their hands in the annual truggle to figure out the degree of friendship/love that should be expressed with some kind of card or gift. Many years ago I heard a friend of my son say something like "Just send them flowers. Women love that sh-t!". The wisdom of that 25-year-old is something I thought of with a smile yesterday afternoon.
I had made Bob's card a few days earlier, but wasn't surprised when he suggested that I get myself some of the lovely flowers he had seen the day before at Hy-Vee, our usual market. There had been too much choice for such a daunting decision, and he figured I would have no trouble finding an acceptable bouquet. "And while you're at it, get yourself a nice card", echoing Christmas Vacation's Clark Griswold at the warehouse with Cousin Eddie, "And while you're at it, Clark, get yourself somethin' really nice".
It was a pleasant assignment. The roses were all beautiful, and I quiickly selected a dozen of pretty pink blooms with red edges. I did have a little trouble choosing a card, all of which seemed very expensive. I decided that I'd just spend the big bucks and re-purpose the lovely butterfly decoration on a future card creation.
This morning, however, Bob looked at the price I'd paid ($12.50) and was impressed -- not in a good way. He got to work on the inside message, and took what seemed like a very long time. When he finally presented it to me, he warned me to be careful of the envelope, which had a lovely gold interior. I opened the card and read the sweet hand-written message. And then I started to laugh. He had written "February 14, 2025" on a small piece of paper taped to the inside of the card. He's saving the card, envelope, and clear plastic protective sleeve, ready for a change of date and re-use next year. I'm still laughing, and obviously that butterfly won't be mine to use anytime soon.
We're expecting snow today, so I'm excited to have a Lake Elmo Inn Event Center Valentine Box for two, for a great at-home dinner. We ordered one for New Year's Day last month, and enjoyed dinner for two or three days. The fruit makes an amazing breakfas, as delicious as the rest of the main courses, sides and dessert. Service Coordinator Amy Pearson is a super competent professional who makes the experience pleasant and troublefree from online order to pick-up. Yesterday temps were frigid but Amy was full of energy as she cheerfully packed our treats in the tailgate.
It's already a special day, mostly thanks to my in-house valentine. Bob and I often laugh so hard my sides hurt and I always look forward to the time we spend together. Happy Valentine's Day to him, and to all my family and friends. Sometimes love is all you need.
