Valentine’s Day. What comes to mind for you?
Fun when you were a child?
Romantic or painful or best ignored when you were a teen?
More than a bit contrived when you’re an adult?
A not so welcome reminder that you’re not in a relationship when you’re not?
I’m ambiguous about it – although I look forward to celebrating anything in the lull that, to me, is January and February.
A reason to wear red? Thumbs up.
Clever, lovely cards? Thumbs up.
Having a sense of humor about the silly holiday if you’re not currently in a relationship? Thumbs up.
A gold necklace with two hearts and a teeny, tiny, microscopic diamond chip my first real crush gave me one Valentine’s Day? Thumbs up.
Having no idea whatever became of it over the years? Thumbs down.
Stocking up on Valentine’s cards to give randomly to my husband through the year, just to remind him how very much I love him? Thumbs up.
Dining in an expensive restaurant on Valentine’s Day where every other woman is wearing red and every couple is of the same contrived mind set, eating the same “romantic” dinner for two finished off with red velvet cake? Thumbs down.
Having a simple meal at home by the fire instead? Thumbs up.
Getting homemade Valentines from little ones in your life? Thumbs up.
The red and pink construction paper with white doilies we made in elementary school, and the shoe boxes we’d decorate in anticipation of Valentines from classmates? Thumbs up.
A dozen red roses with baby’s breath? Thumbs down for me.
Some flowers more original and personal from someone who knows you well enough to know your favorites? Thumbs up.
Buying yourself flowers for Valentine’s Day (or any day) if you feel like it? (because you’re so worth it) Thumbs up.
Romance? Love? Amour? Sweet embraces? Soft kisses? Rich dark chocolates? All thumbs up. Way up.
Is it thumbs up or thumbs down for you?
Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory?
A funny or disastrous one?
Do you remember your first real Valentine’s gift from a real live boy?
Do tell.
Bicycle Valentine’s cards: A Letterpress on Etsy.
Vintage Valentine Cards: pagescrappers on Etsy.
Chocolates: XChocolArt on Etsy.
What a lovely site! We rarely celebrate Valentine’s Day, but I feel that’s about to change with the addition of a grandchild
Along with many other fun things from the past, Mrs. Tucker. All things old are new again! Congratulations on your upcoming delight!
Great post, as always.
My favorite Valentine’s Day was when I was an unattached woman. A friend and I went out to dinner by ourselves to Denny’s at 5 o’clock, on the premise of making fun of the people who chose that restaurant for their big V-Day celebration. Well, it was actually so endearing because there were older couples still very much in love, and young couples with children who still wanted to go out. It made us feel much better about the Hallmark holiday.
Tammy recently posted..Groundhog Day
Oh that’s sweet, Tammy. Those who are humbly starting out, working at raising a family, and those elder sweethearts.
Your post was lovely and covered all the ups and downs of the holiday. I always felt it was mostly a ‘Hallmark Holiday’ and when food allergies came to live in our family, the holiday really went out the window. I always recognize the day with the grandkids but give things like gift cards to ITunes or Target.
I just mailed out a few little Valentine’s goodies to little granddaughters too – 1 year olds.
Hi Fellow Empty Nester! Every year my husband and I celebrate Valentine’s Day by going to a book store–this is getting harder to do each year–and getting each other a book. This year we are planning to include our only grandchild in our outing! Happy Monday.
Loy recently posted..Monday Mischief With Roy and Dale
Loy, sounds like a perfect Valentine’s Day tradition to me – books and flowers are my favorite gifts. And with a grandchild in tow – you’ll enjoy a whole new section at the book store, I’m sure. I’m so glad you stopped in an wish you happy book purchasing together!
Valentines Day just has not been the same for me since I stopped making pink and white mailboxes out of discarded shoeboxes. Which is not to say that I am not absolutely crazy about my valentine!
May recently posted..The Syrup Pitcher
I’m thinking we all have fond memories of those decorated shoe boxes, don’t we?
Ugh on some of these, swoons on others. I, too, have a love/hate relationship with the day. I’ve never made a big deal of it or wanted much out of it, except for my daughters. Wish my oldest, in particular, would have romantic gestures heaped upon her for she deserves it and never gets it.
My first Valentine’s gift from a real live boy was in fifth grade. Through friends, we hit the “going together” stage, and he approached me on the playground with a heart-shaped candy box. I was thrilled. I slowly opened the cellophane wrap-less box to find not chocolate but gumballs. They filled half the box, not the entirety, but he’d probably run out of coins for the gumball machine. Or maybe he ate them himself, as I’d expect a fifth-grade boy to do. Memorable moment for sure.
Lisa @ Grandma’s Briefs recently posted..The flu and what I didn’t do
Oh Lisa, I feel the same way about my youngest daughter. She’s so awesome and adorable and more than worthy of romantic gestures too. Slightly breaks a mother’s heart that the right man hasn’t arrived yet. He will. He will.
Funny 5th grade Valentine story – I suspect the young guy of eating half of them – knowing boys.
I hate to be a downer, but I haven’t liked Valentine’s Day much for the past couple of decades, ever since my grandfather passed away on that date. I was old enough to feel everyone’s sorrow and loneliness but young enough not to understand death. It’s hard to see how commercialized the occasion has become, too. Thumbs up, telling everyone you love that you love them, regardless of the date on the calendar!
Debbie recently posted..Throw Me Something, Mister!
Exactly, Debbie. Exactly.
Pretty cards! Other than it being another opportunity for handcrafted greetings, I am so over this holiday, and not sure if I ever really enjoyed it. There was always some level of pressure, whether attached or not. We pretty much ignore it and/or laugh at it these days. Although I love the new trend of singles getting together for counter-Valentine’s parties!
Katrina Blanchalle recently posted..Fresh From The Garden
Yes, Katrina, it’s the pressure that most of us don’t like. Men especially. To buy chocolates and roses and make dinner reservations on cue, and that’s not even touching on the onslaught of jewelry commercials. Ugh.
Another holiday to fear dashed expectations. Being in a stable, happy relationship makes it a fun day, but I remember as a teenager, putting so much importance in the day that there was always a bit of disappointment. I am so glad to be at this point of my life and not back there, where things were so secretly meaningful and possibly hurtful. What drama. I look forward now to finding the perfect sentiment for my grandchildren. Oh the simple joys!
Amen to that Karen!
My favorite Valentines memories were going valentining,running around the neighborhood delivering valentines to my friends and doorbell ditching them. So fun!
Those were the days, Diane… Happy Valentines Day!
Great post! I find that I love the idea of Valentine’s Day more than the reality of it. We have abandoned the idea of dining out. Instead I cook a romantic dinner for two at home. It’s great!
Vicki Valenta recently posted..Grams Made It – 5K
Hi Vicki – so glad you stopped in here! We’ve gone for dining in as well – so much nicer for us – or we visit a restaurant a few nights before or after the 14th.
This was such a wonderful post. My two favorite Valentine’s Days:
1. My husband and I had dated for a little while during the summer before my senior year, but then we stopped speaking in September when school started (silly misunderstanding). On that following Valentine’s Day, he called me and we talked for hours, realized that both of us still wanted to date one another, and we have been together ever since (with a few bumps along the way).
2. Our second child, our son, was born on Valentine’s Day.
I love flowers and candy, but if you want to give me a gift for Valentine’s Day, I’d rather get jewelry – just saying
And, I did get a lovely ring two years ago.
Robin recently posted..Remembering Robert Frost
Robin, what two strong ties you have to the day. High school sweethearts? I love that…the idea of having gone through so much life together. I had an aunt and uncle who knew each other since 4th grade and met each other over a Valentine’s Day debacle. He was the new kid. She had a crush. He passed out Valentines to every one but her (elementary school aged boy-speak for liking her) but she was crushed. They were married for 35 years until she died at 53. He’s in his 70s now and has never remarried. There might be something to those lovers who meet or connect to February 14.
Jewelry tops the list in my book too, followed by flowers as a close second. Flowers any time – just sayin’
Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my Vision and Verb post. I am in Australia or I would love to come with you to hear an inspiring author speak.
Valentine’s Day in our household is never something really special…I never really understood why there is only one day a year top show our loved ones we love them?
However I have always loved hand made cards my children would offer me, I still have the giant pink heart both children came with from their Kindergarten years. This by far is my favourite Valentine gift.
I love your red heels…
Anyes – Far Away in the Sunshine recently posted..My commitment
I am definitely a thumbs up girl when it comes to the holiday. I probably wasn’t when I was a twenty-something. Later I learned to appreciate the day for what it was, a day for me to remind myself to love me. Silly, I know. Now that I have kids, I love it for them and always have something special waiting for them when they wake up. Oh, I love that it’s tulip time. I have them all over that house as I type.
Brenda recently posted..Magical Thinking
Brenda, isn’t it true that kids make so many things fun? And tulip time is a favorite time for me too – I try to make anytime tulip time.