Valentine's Day

I don't remember Valentine's Day being on a Sunday before, although it surely has been. It seems a bit odd to me - like a day without a home. Because Valentine's Day should be any other day of the week, when flowers can be delivered and cards can arrive in the mail. Sunday just seems wrong somehow.

I have many memories of Valentine's Day growing up because there were always school celebrations. A dear old friend has many times mentioned Valentine's Day in the 6th grade which I honestly have no recollection of but he seems quite sure of his memory. According to him, the class had a large, decorated box which everyone stuffed their class valentines in when they arrived at school that morning. Later in the day, when the official Valentine Party was to commence, the teacher put me in charge of opening the box in front of the class and distributing the cards one at a time, reading each name so the recipient could walk to the front of the class, retrieve their card, and return to their seat where they could open and read it. (I think I was chosen because I had decorated the box, not because I was particularly fairminded) Apparently each time one of his cards came up I read his name - and then before he could make his way to the front of the class I'd say "Oops - guess he's not here" (alluding the the fact that he had taken too long to respond) and then I'd stuff his valentine back into the box. Now I honestly can't imagine that I was such an evil person, although he and I were friends so perhaps I meant it more as a tease than anything else, but to hear him tell it I was being unkind. Since I have completely deleted the incident from my mind, I can't explain it. And where in the world was the teacher when all this was going on? It's possible he made the whole thing up.

But just in case, this is my official apology to my friend, who happens to read my blog entries, and also a public attempt at redemption. Here goes:

"Joel, I'm so sorry I ruined your Valentine's Day in Mrs. Webb's class all those years ago. I hope I didn't scar you for life and I truly hope your Valentine's Days since then have been better. I hope you know how much I love you and cherish our friendship. Old friends truly are the best!"

Now hopefully that puts an end to my Valentine's Day guilt. Because it should be all about love. And love is all we need!