Happy Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day. Perhaps no other holiday in the entire American culture is fraught with so much emotion, both positive and negative. It starts when you are a kid in school, where the popular kids got more of those cheesy little valentine's than the other kids, and the feeling that, perhaps, you will be "left out" never quite leaves most people.

No one is really sure how Valentine's Day began, but we know it has roots back in Roman Times, so I guess a lot of people have been disappointed or delighted on February 14th. If you are with someone, you wonder if s/he is going to "forget" about the holiday, leaving you without a card, chocolates, or something better. If you are not with someone, the chances are that even if it is by choice, that feeling you got back in school (see above) will hit at some hour of the day...maybe lots of hours, actually.

Although I have a thoughtful husband who sent me two dozen roses on Monday (so I'd be able to enjoy them longer...) and a card, today, I think that V-day is really more than just telling your romantic partner that you love them (although 14K and flowers always works it's magic on me, ha, ha. In the best of all worlds, you would tell the people that you love them every day, and they would affirm the same for you. In the real, and busy world we live in, V-day should be about love, but not just the romantic kind. Let's all take take a moment, really take a moment, to tell those we love how much we appreciate them.

This morning one of the first things I did was to call my 87 1/2-year old father, who sometimes doesn't even remember my name anymore. I got him on the phone and I told him he had been a great dad, and that I loved him. I am not sure he remembered what Valentine's Day was, but there was no mistaking the joy in his voice when I told him how much I appreciate him in my life, and how great it is that he is still here. And, I hugged my cats and gave them treats (I seriously doubt that telling them I love them in words could be accomplished any better than giving them cat yummies). I emailed my friends, and my called my brother-in-law, who doubtless, is feeling the loss yet another year gone by, of my twin sister, Advice Sister Jessica. I emailed cheesy cards to friends, especially those I know have no family and no romantic partners to share with.

I am lucky in love, but not everyone is. If you are reading this and you're feeling lonely, sad, or dissapointed this Valentine's Day, try to take a moment to reach out to the people who support you, or just make you smile. They'll appreciate it, and you'll feel better, too. V-day is just 24 hours and then it's over. Love should be there, every day.