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The Perfect Time Of Year
If you ask me, Valentine’s Day comes at just the right time of year.
Now, the middle of February might seem a bit counter-intuitive. I mean, we’re talking about love and romance, hearts and flowers. Even here in the relatively mild Northwest there aren’t many blooms out during this time of year. Wouldn’t spring or even summer be the more logical choice? After all, summer is the traditional favorite for weddings (although I personally bucked tradition and got married in December). Why not celebrate romance in warm weather, too?
But it’s precisely for that reason that Valentine’s Day is perfectly suited for February 14. How wonderful to have a reminder, in the darkest days of the year, that love endures even under the harshest conditions.
It’s easy to believe in love and romance when the sun is shining and the flowers in the yard are a riot of color. Everything is fresh and new, full of energy and life. It’s like the first blush of love, when your breath catches every time you see him.
But true, deep, lasting love exists during the dormant times as well. When the world seems barren and colorless, when the rain hasn’t stopped in days or even weeks, that’s when we need to truly believe in love. It’s still there, perhaps not as vibrant or flashy, but solid and steady.
So here’s wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day. May it remind you of the enduring power of love, the promise of spring, and the ability of romance to be a positive force in our lives – and in the world.
Question: What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day/romantic memory?
Kate Davies
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Challenging Carter, Feb 13
I’m with you kate, I like Valentines Day in February. Long nights and chilly enough so you snuggle up with each other, nice and romantic.
My favorite memory is the first spent with my cutie. We were at Whitelocks, an old pub in the city center, with a bunch of friends, keeping the romance low key and he bought me a rose. Eventually we made it up to the local curry house and after nibble on some spicy chips the group started walking home…he kept slowing down then leaned me against a brick wall and kissed me…sigh…yup, love and adore the cutie more every year.
Tilly
Well, considering that Valentine’s Day was dreamt up by the greeting card companies as a way to boost sales in a slow season, it’s probably not much of a surprise that it comes when it does. <g>
I honestly think women appreciate the holiday more than men do. A heck of a lot more, really. For all intents and purposes, it’s ALL about the women.
Then there are those of us who weren’t all that popular back in grade school and only received cards and such because everyone was required to give them to everyone.
And there’s the expectations…it can be rough for guys to think of something special to get on yet another day when gifts are anticipated by their partner. Most guys aren’t all that good at shopping for stuff like that.
Or anything else, for that matter.
Most guys, anyway.
:)
Tilly — thanks for sharing! I can totally understand why you adore “cutie”. Sigh…
Saje — yeah, right, bring logic into the whole thing, why don’t you? :)
But I agree. Valentine’s Day can be a high-pressure situation for anyone, male or female, who’s trying to get just the right gift.
I love the symbolism of Valentine’s Day in the dormant time of year, but I fully believe that if the sales pressure gets to be too much, don’t celebrate it! It’s just as wonderful to have a romantic moment on Groundhog’s Day or Thursday, just because.
That’s why I made the question about Valentine’s Day OR other romantic memory. :)
Saje, I smiled when I read your comments because I just asked my hubby what he thought of Valentine’s Day, and he basically said the same thing as you. You guys think alike. I do love Valentine’s Day in February. My dh and I do have some special memories from celebrating this holiday, but actually what I miss now are the cute homemade Valentines I used to receive from my kids when they were young. You know the ones with lots of hearts glued all over the card, maybe a poem, or paint that never dried completely when they presented you with their creations.
And Kate, thanks for the post so now I have tears in my eyes remembering when my big kids were little.
Oh, I love those cards! My kids are still in the homemade card stage, and I’m already dreading the day they stop playing with glitter and glue.
Didn’t mean to make you cry, though. :)
My husband and I are big fans of hot weather, so I think when Valentine’s Day rolls around, we kick back with a kind of “we made it” attitude—spring is around the corner, days to the beach aren’t far off, and the light is starting to change. Think you hit the nail on the head. As for gifts, we put a few bucks in our “get out of town” bucket and exchange cards, and duck across the street for chinese take-out.
Those cards, my God, those little cards. Someone at work actually gives them out to coworkers :o)
I get my hubby something for Vday and he appreciates it very much. He loves chocolate and this year, I got him one of those silly tees that has a ball and chain on it that says Sorry, I’m taken. I gave it to him early because he had a bad day at work and of course he wore the darn thing with a big grin, stating that this keeps the ‘wimmin’ from pinching his butt at his job. He works at a lumbar yard, and I doubt this is a problem. It best NOT be one LOL!! Valentine’s is just a day that gives me an excuse to show him how much I care. So, hey, I love it.
Ciar — I like your tradition! We’re big on Chinese takeout, too. :)
Too funny about the little cards! One of my non-romance jobs is as a columnist for a local magazine, writing about connecting with your significant other. One of the suggestions I found for my Valentine’s-themed column was to buy one of those boxes of cards and write a little note on each one, leaving them around for your honey to find. In the car, around the house, on the bed…
Jenna — what a great shirt! And it’s nice to have an excuse to be sweet to the ones we love. :)
Thanks, everyone, for your comments!
We don’t make that big of a deal out of Valentine’s Day. I’m with the fellas in that I think it’s just a
“Hallmark Holiday”. However, I always get my dh a big box of nuts to let him know that I’m still nuts about him. LOL.
Liz —
I love it! What a cute gift. Thanks for sharing!