Everyday

  Woke up and had forgotten completely that it was Valentines day. I'm so old I remember when it was called St. Valentines day. I haven't heard that in awhile, but I'm told I'm a bit of a recluse and am not informed a great deal of the time. Seems strange living in the information age but being told it is mostly misinformation. That's what I hear when I share the information I have anyway. Apparently the only news networks I'm listening to are lying to me. Oh well. It's exhausting trying to check sources, references and finding the "truth." The truth being, I can find sources, references and experts to validate just about anything I want to validate. If all you need is a PhD to be credible I can certainly find a number of those folks to agree with me. 

  But anyway, it is St. Valentines day. A rather odd holiday all things considered. If you read the history of St. Valentine you'll understand what I mean. He got beheaded for performing marriages and reportedly restored a blind girls sight, then he wrote her a note saying, Love, your Valentine. No explanation how she learned to read overnight like that. But whatever the case was, St. Valentine is remembered, and is also the patron saint of beekeepers and epilepsy. Along the way Cupid showed up with his arrows. I do remember celebrating the day in elementary school. We exchanged valentine cards, the boys giving them to the girls and vice-versa, guessing that may have changed today. Cupcakes and Kool-Aid were popular although Hawaiian Punch was top shelf back then. No idea what they are doing today. 

  Valentines day has never been a big deal with the wife and I. We don't exchange cards or candy. No going out for a fancy dinner. I don't recall my kids making a big fuss about it either but I did have two boys so maybe that has something to do with that. I'm pretty sure we did stuff with the grandkids for Valentines day, like making cupcakes, hearts and that sort of thing. I don't know, Valentines day is just not a top shelf holiday. This year Christmas came and went and I barely noticed that! 

 Today is the day for roses, hearts and chocolates. Reports say about 27.5 billion dollars will be spent on valentines day. An average of $188.81 per person. Well I guess; but I can tell you for a fact I have never spent any where near that amount of Valentines day. I have bought roses and chocolates in the past, maybe thirty five or forty bucks, but it was as an investment, if you get my meaning. I fully subscribe to the "it's the thought that counts" train of thought regarding all of that. That may come from my elementary school days. We all had an envelope taped to front of our desks for others to place their valentines in. I discovered that lots of those girls didn't give me a thought, as I got no valentine. I didn't feel marginalized or left out, I simply thought, well I didn't give you a valentine either. This whole "love" thing isn't a group activity! 

  So, Happy Valentines Day to those that celebrate. I hope you got your card, flowers, candy or whatever. As for me I celebrate everyday that I have a loving wife that puts up with me. Can't ask for much more than that. From 1 Corinthians 13:"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. " My wife does all of that and more, although she does seem to keep a record of wrongs and remind me of them often. No matter, I love her just the way she is. Happy Valentines Day.