Column: Something About Nothing

“Take away love and our earth is a tomb.” — Robert Browning

Yes, it is that time of year when we celebrate love. Hearts and flowers are displayed in the windows of stores. Ads turn pink and red to symbolize love. Love makes the world go around. Yes, if there were no love, the earth would be a tomb.

I love Valentine’s Day. It isn’t because I always get the most romantic Valentine, but because there is something about the day that makes us better people. We take the time on Valentine’s Day to shower those we care about with wishes of love. What makes a person feel better than to know they are loved?

Love doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It is the sentiment that counts. My most memorable Valentine’s Day present cost my husband pennies. It was the first Valentine I received from him the first year we were married.

I suspect it was a Valentine born out of the “Oh, no, I forgot it’s Valentine’s Day, and I don’t have a Valentine to take home.”

The first Valentine from my husband was a big triangular old tin with the words “I Love You” welded to the front. Along with the tin was a heavy silver bar with the word “Julie” welded on that. Out of all the Valentines, I have received those are the ones I still have. In fact, the bar sits on the windowsill of my office. I have had those gifts for 41 years.

I cannot say for sure as to the sentiment when making those gifts, but I can be for sure about the sentiment that was in his heart. I also like the weird and unique and so I treasured those gifts.

Another Valentine’s Day I remember occurred before I met my husband. I received a plant, fresh flowers and a big Valentine heart filled with chocolates all from different male friends. I took a picture of those gifts. I knew I would never see a Valentine’s Day like that again.

I love to watch the young people and the glow on their faces when they receive flowers or a special gift from that certain girl or boy that is in their life at this time. Memories are being made.

I used to work in a Hallmark store and a drug store. By Valentine’s Day most of the cards for husbands and guy friends were sold out.

On Valentine’s Day there were still many cards left for women. Sorry, guys, at that time it was just a fact. That was another reason I loved to work on Valentine’s Day. It was so much fun at the end of the day to stand by the cards and gifts and assist those harried males with their last-minute Valentine buys.

I would wait for the door to open, their faces said it all, and I would point to the Valentine section and not have to say a word. Remember it is the thought that counts, not the lateness.

It is also hard to feel the love of Valentine’s Day if you are alone and you are not remembered. There have been many tears shed because of not being remembered. If that is the case, remember yourself on Valentine’s Day. Take the time to love yourself and do something special for you. The love we feel isn’t just for family and friends; we need to feel it for ourselves, too.

I wish you love. Happy Valentine’s Day.

“Life is a journey, and love is what makes that journey worthwhile.” — Unknown Author

 

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at thecolumn@bevcomm.net.