I have a special interest in Valentine’s Day, as might come as no surprise. A few months over twenty-five years ago, I married my first true love and along with a wonderful man came a delightful name. As we left our wedding reception in Pasadena, California in July 1983, the guests threw not rice but those little candy conversation hearts, a treat orchestrated by a friend and work colleague there who now all these years, and for each of us many cities later, lives less than a half mile from me in Louisville, Kentucky. Such is the power of friendship that she and her family, including one of my favorite people, her mother Margaret, took me in and hosted me for five months when I first moved here, and have been generous, loving and frequent companions now that we live close together.
As for our family, we play up the Valentine theme, sending Valentines rather than Christmas cards, complete with the family letter like those we receive from many friends at Christmas time. Many years we have a party, or sometimes two. On the day before Valentine’s Day this year, we had heart shaped cookies in the cafeteria at the Presbyterian Center. I love to see colleagues greeting one another, relaxing and laughing as we all take a short break and enjoy each other’s company. Valentine’s Day is a great excuse for special words and gestures of friendship and love. Happy Valentine’s Day – or as we often quip in our family – let every day be Valentine’s Day.
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