Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hi neighbors. Another Valentine’s Day occurs next week. If you have anyone in your life that you love, don’t forget to let them know how you feel. Although for some, Valentine’s Day may have references only to romantic love, I feel it also is a day to celebrate all expressions of love for those people we care for.

Take a few moments to bring to mind all those people who have shown you love in your lifetime. Certainly parents, siblings, children, spouses and immediate and extended members of your family would fill your thoughts.

What about those friends who have been closer than family to you in your lifetime?

People you have known since childhood for example, or people you have worked with for years. Teachers from your past and current life who have helped you learn your chosen career or just how to better live a fulfilling life should be considered.

All of us have grown through many levels of “love” in our lives. Who was your first crush? Who asked you to the school dances? Who sat with you at the away ballgames? Most of these first loves were more friends than romances, but still they made young hearts pound a little faster.

Remember those Valentine’s Day boxes we would make at school and cover them with construction paper designs. Filled with store-bought and/or handmade Valentines, we eagerly opened them at the class party to see if a certain special friend had declared they wanted to be our Valentine.

Remember the trepidation of putting the Valentines you brought to school into the other students’ boxes? Some kind teachers would help us through this clumsy step toward adulthood by collecting all the Valentines and placing them in the boxes themselves.

All the students were like the familiar cartoon boy who always feared he would get no Valentines at all. That image of him fearing neglect was always uppermost in my mind as I opened my Valentine box. Fortunately I never faced that deepest humiliation as there were always Valentines from each classmate in mine, and everyone’s Valentine’s boxes.

Any disappointment was quickly dismissed by the serving of cupcakes and punch.

Couples still celebrate Valentine’s Day with romance and gifts. Flowers may be hard to find even now as they sell out pretty quickly; particularly red roses. Flowers are always a great gift although women traditionally appreciate them more than men do.

Some might like edible bouquets better.

A night out on the town with dinner and dancing or a movie is also a standard way of celebrating Valentine’s Day with long-term couples.

The secret of romance is sharing time together and any way to share doing things you both like is the key to a great Valentine’s Day celebration. Although it will be too cold for most to enjoy a day on the lake, a trip to an aquarium for those who enjoy learning about marine life might be fun. A hike in the park might interest those who enjoy being outside in nature.

A day trip to a museum, or to a unique restaurant or opera or other stage performance might be just the thing to share with a loved one. A scenic train ride; a mystery theater dinner, or a poetry reading? How about a nostalgic night out to see a musical group that was popular when you first started dating your love?

You can see that when you are in love, almost any activity shared can feel romantic. It’s taking the time to share time with your loved one(s) in today’s busy world that makes Valentine’s Day special.

Young children often enjoy a party with their siblings, friends and family. Cupcakes and party games are good fun but don’t forget they also like helping to make the cupcakes. They are particularly fond of applying the frosting or decorations.

If you have no current romantic love interests, spend time with friends and neighbors at public Valentine’s Day events or parties. You might take an hour or so and go visit those who can’t travel. Just a game of cards or checkers with someone who would otherwise be alone might be a way to express love to your elderly community.

You could spend an hour walking dogs or playing with kittens and puppies at the local animal shelter. Take a bag of treats and make a dog love you forever — or at least till the treats are gone!

Until the next time friends remember Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. Although ‘love’ is a small word, it’s interpretations are almost endless. Find a way to show you care.