What's Valentine's Day Have to Do With LOVE

WHEN FEBRUARY FIRST ROLLS AROUND, I ALWAYS THINK OF VALENTINE'S DAY. AFTER ALL, HERE IN THE MID-WEST IN MID-WINTER, IT IS A BRIGHT SPOT IN THE OTHERWISE COLD, WINTRY AND UNINTERESTING MONTH. FOR WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO THINK OF LOVE IN ALL ITS VARIOUS FORMS, AND MANIFESTATIONS! WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, VALENTINE'S DAY WAS A DAY TO LOOK FORWARD TO WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A STRICT CATHOLIC SCHOOL WHERE NOT MUCH CHANGED IN THE REGULAR ROUTINE, AND THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH REASON FOR JOY. BUT, ON VALENTINE'S DAY, WE WERE ALL ENCOURAGED TO DECORATE A SHOE BOX WITH VALENTINE'S DAY PARAPHERNALIA OF WHITE LACE DOILIES, RED TISSUE PAPER AND VARIOUS SIZES OF RED HEARTS. A CUT IN THE TOP OF THE BOX WAS FOR SLIPPING IN YOUR RECEIVED VALENTINES FROM EACH MEMBER OF THE CLASS, GIRLS AND BOYS. I REMEMBER GOING HOME AND WONDERING WHETHER THE VALENTINE FROM THE BOY I HAD A CRUSH ON AT THE TIME, HAD ANY SIGNIFICANCE AT ALL...BIGGER, NICER, PRETTIER THAN THE OTHERS....USUALLY NOT. ONE YEAR, MY BROTHER HAD BEEN SO STRUCK BY CUPID'S INFLUENCE THAT HE SHOT AN ARROW INTO THE FRONT YARD OF HIS GIRL-FRIEND'S HOUSE TO THE HORROR AND CONSTERNATION OF HER PARENTS. I THINK THAT THEY CALLED THE POLICE!
AS I GOT OLDER, VALENTINE'S DAY SEEMED LESS OF A DAY TO CELEBRATE THAN A DAY TO LAMENT THAT I DID NOT HAVE A BOYFRIEND OR "SIGNIFICANT OTHER" SENDING ME A CARD, CANDY OR FLOWERS. I BECAME A MEMBER OF THAT VAST GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE "SINGLE" ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND WISHED THAT THE DAY WOULD BE OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TO THIS DAY, I HAVE A DEEP FEELING FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A SPECIAL "SOMEONE" TO SHARE THE DAY WITH. IT IS A VERY LONELY DAY FOR MANY.
TODAY, THANKS TO HALLMARK, FLOWER SHOPS AND CANDY MAKERS, VALENTINE'S DAY HAS A WIDER, MORE INCLUSIVE RANGE TO INCLUDE ANY AND ALL PEOPLE WE LOVE....MOMS, DADS, KIDS, GRANDS, FRIENDS AS WELL AS "SIGNIFICANT OTHERS" WHICH I THINK IS A VERY GOOD IDEA! AFTER ALL, LOVE IS LOVE WHICH TAKES MANY FORMS AND IS FELT BY EVERYONE TOWARDS THE SPECIAL PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES. SO, HURRAH FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, A DAY TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE PEOPLE WE LOVE IN THIS WORLD. AND JUST A THOUGHT, YOU NEVER HAVE TO WAIT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY TO LET THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE KNOW IT!

A Dreary Sunday Turn-Around

I don't do well on overcast, dreary days. I always thought that I was immune to such "nonsense" that lack of sun can affect your mood or disposition. I always thought that I was "bigger" than that; who gives in to such a thing??? Not me. Well, then again, yes me. Today was just such a day in central Illinois. And, yes, I did read about the snow storm covering the east coast, but never mind that; I am here under a windy, blustery, cold, overcast rainy day, and right after lunch, and up until 2:30, I was under the covers hoping the day would just go away. But then, I had one ace in my pocket, if I could motivate and muster the energy to get up and out the door to attend an afternoon concert on the campus of Illinois Westley University which was titled, "Love Songs Over All the Earth...Unifying Humanity through Music, Poetry and Art. Well, I got myself there and oh, the joy of it all!
The program talked about the extraordinary powers of music to calm;to shape emotions; to perswade our minds and hearts to beauty's end. When we add the universal and supremely powerful emotions of Love to the extraordinary persuasive power of Music, we have a potent mix to which virtually everyone can respond.
Songs of love were played by the most wonderful violinist I have ever heard, with piano accompaniment, while different masterpieces by famous artists were featured from overhead projector. Along with this, there was a vocalist and poetry readings, all with the theme of love.  Love drew me in; the music soothed my soul and the day turned out well.