Memories and Moments by GrannyJo

I SMELL A MEMORY
Copyright 2003

VALENTINE MEMORIES

The first Valentine Day ever (for me) came on February 14, 1942. I don’t have a memory of any celebrations or card exchanges in all of our family before that time. Only with the start of school did the excitement of making valentines and giving them to classmates and family begin.

I remember how surprised and happy my mom and dad were when I presented them with a bit lopsided, but colorful heart, featuring a lace background made by folding a white sheet of paper over and over and cutting little holes and diamonds in it, until it was more holes than paper. We would have put Hallmark out of business in those days.

The image of the carefully decorated box with a slit in the top through which we’d mail our valentines at school until party day still comes to my mind, (if I take a moment or so to carefully search the old memory banks). Usually a couple of mothers would bring some heart shaped sugar cookies and bottles of chocolate milk to give a festive feeling to the day. That was also probably the first time I was exposed to doing anything by ‘vote’. We nominated a couple of classmates to play ‘postman’ (post person, now) and then we were given a chance to vote on a slip of paper and deposit in a bowl on the teacher’s desk. Since we were just six months into school, Mrs. Randal, the teacher, block printed the three names on the board, telling us who each one was. Quite the learning process…reading, printing and civics….all for a holiday!

Further along in school, third through sixth grades, we began to use the commercial valentines, those little things that came fifty assorted to a bag. How can I ever forget laying each one out, picking the best for that favorite boy and special good friends, and wondering if I should give any at all to some not so good friends. Of course, I’d quickly remember how bad it would be not to get any valentines, so I’d reluctantly write out one to everybody. It was at that time that we began to be social animals. We discovered that if we planned the parties, including the refreshments, they would be a bit more elaborate…thus more time off from studying! That’s just what we did. We contributed some cash toward decorations and a big sheet cake from the bakery. Parents would bring finger sandwiches and the ice cream and we went for Kool-Aid, served in a punch bowl, instead of milk. What fun!!

Naturally, junior high and high school brought significant others that meant fancy cards, candy and sometimes a ‘date’. There was always a Valentine Dance in the gym and we all took turns at decorating through the different years. It didn’t matter if you went stag, and girls danced with girls very easily then. Of course, girls were the best dancers! They practiced more, never lacking a partner. The boys…well, we’ll skip that. However, there was always that ‘special’ valentine, that ‘special’ dance partner, that very ‘special’ boy who grew to be my friend, my husband....

MY FOREVER VALENTINE

WE MET IN SCHOOL—
HE WAS MY FRIEND,
CUTE LITTLE VALENTINES WE’D SEND,
(AND WE’D SMILE AND TELL EACH OTHER, “COOL!”)

THE END OF SCHOOL—
WE SOON WERE LOVERS,
A LOVE THAT’S BEEN OUR VALENTINE,
(AND WE SMILE AND TELL EACH OTHER, “COOL!”)

WELL HE’S MY FRIEND,
AND HE’S MY LOVER,
I WON’T EVER NEED ANOTHER,
HE’S MY FOREVER VALENTINE!

DON’T NEED FLOWERS,
I DON’T WANT CANDY,
I’VE GOT A LOVER AND HE'S JUST DANDY,
HE’S MY FOREVER VALENTINE!

SO MANY YEARS SINCE WE MET IN SCHOOL!
STILL WE ARE LOVERS AND WE ARE FRIENDS,
VALENTINES OF ENDLESS LOVE WE SEND,
(AND WE SMILE AND TELL EACH OTHER, “COOL!”)

THIS LIFE TOGETHER, SO RICH AND FULL—
WE'RE VALENTINES UNTIL THE END,
OUR LOVE IS THE DAILY GIFT WE SEND,
(AND WE SMILE AND TELL EACH OTHER, “COOL!”)

WELL HE’S MY FRIEND,
AND HE’S MY LOVER,
I WON’T EVER NEED ANOTHER,
HE’S MY FOREVER VALENTINE!

DON’T NEED FLOWERS,
I DON’T WANT CANDY,
I’VE GOT A LOVER AND HE'S JUST DANDY,
HE’S MY FOREVER VALENTINE!

YES, HE’S MY FRIEND,
AND HE’S MY LOVER,
I WON’T EVER NEED ANOTHER,
HE’S MY FOREVER VALENTINE!

I’m trying to set the words to music with the help of one of our sons. If it works I’ll bring it here, if it doesn’t, it will always be a song in my heart.

Now on to more wonders of Valentine Days and Love.8-)