Camden, I would like to talk about Valentine’s Day with you.  I know it was last week, but we can still discuss it.  You can later share the info with Adalie and Reed.  I know you made Valentine’s for your friends and your mom and dad.  Adalie probably did as well.  Reed probably did not.  Unless you or Adalie helped him.  I do bet he did eat his share of candy.  Speaking of candy, save me a little.  You know how Papa loves his chocolate.

Why do I want to talk about Valentine’s Day?  That I am not sure.  I thought it was a good idea until I started writing.  Then, I decided that I could use some help with this project.  Maybe I could ask others about Valentine’s Day and share their thoughts.  I think that sounds like a good idea.  A group project.

First, I will tell you about the history of Valentine’s Day.  I watched it on the History Channel.  Here we go.

Ever since Hallmark, the Roman God of Cards, came out of the sky with little man Cupid on February 14, who knows what year? We celebrate this day with candy, cards, flowers, and Viagra.  History Channel, I tell you.

Valentine’s Day is a day of romance for some.  A day to forget for others.  Galentine’s Day is the day before Valentine’s Day.  I hope it becomes more popular.  It is a day to celebrate platonic relationships and especially for women of all ages to spend time with friends.

Camden and Reed, we need to devise a day for us guys.  A bro day.  What could we call it…Menentine Day?  Not very catchy.  Broentine Day?  No, I do not like that one either.  Hell, let’s just stick to Monday Night Football. Throw me that bottle opener, please.  My manly hands are having a tough time with this twist off top.

So the day before Valentine’s, I went out into the world and bought a few roses.  Gaga got a dozen.  I shared thirteen roses with old and new friends.  I asked each person for their thoughts on love.  We had some great conversations.  Let me introduce you to my friends and share their insights.

Diane

This is my new friend Diane.  We met in the parking lot of the store where I bought flowers.  She was parked a few spots from me.  This would be an excellent chance, I thought, to ask if she would like to help with my project.  She said that she would.  We took a photo and had a conversation.

Diane’s first husband of forty years died thirteen years ago. If I understood correctly, she and her second husband have been together for nine years as of last week.  Diane told me that love never leaves you and love never ends. 

When I told Diane that I was going to write something up for my littles about Valentine’s Day, she told me that one of her favorite childhood memories was making Valentine’s boxes for her friends.  One year, she made a box for her ill teacher.  She and her mother took the box to the teacher.  That was love.  Diane said that love takes all forms.  Love is friends, family, church, and the earth.

Diane told me that you know you are in love when you get a warm and exciting feeling when you see the person you love, no matter how long you have known them.  I enjoyed our visit.

After leaving Diane, I went downtown.

I noticed a woman sitting at a sidewalk table finishing her lunch.  I walked up, sat down, and started a conversation.  Amanda agreed to take a photo and talk about Valentine’s Day. 

Amanda

Amanda considers Valentine’s Day as more of a Hallmark day.  She has never had a relationship where she has felt loved.  She feels that more men go onto dating sites and no longer interact like “old school guys.”  She feels that at thirty-three, she may never have that special relationship.  I told her that she had plenty of time.  Thirty-three is nothing.  She was happy to hear that.  I hope Amanda one day finds love.

After visiting with Amanda, I drove over to the building where I used to work. I might find a few friends who would like a rose. 

My first stop once in the building was Becky’s office. 

Becky

Becky told me that if you loved someone, you were there for them. You took care of them.  Becky added that you should not kill them.  Even if, at times, that is what you wanted to do.  I did not ask her where the bodies were buried. 

I then went upstairs to see my good friend Tammy.

Tammy

Tammy told me that love was the feeling you get when you look at your children and grandchildren and know you would die for them.

Tammy added that her answer about love comes from a single person.  She was unsure she would ever feel romantic love again unless it was with Travis Kelce.  Tammy does not want to be the reason for Travis and Taylor’s breakup.  She does not want to piss Taylor off or cause more teardrops on her guitar.

(I am a Swiftie)

Now, if the remaining pictures look like they were taken in the same room, they were.  I was on assignment in Tammy’s office. 

Maddie

Maddie said that love was putting someone else’s needs before your own and enjoying that.  She felt that you know you are in love when you want to do life with them.

Val

Twenty-two-year-old Val told me that love is having someone who will wake up in the middle of the night to take care of you when you are sick…after a night of drinking.

 Good job L.J.! L.J. is Val’s boyfriend.

Sarah

Love is what we all need in life. 

Love is hard. 

It is not flowers and rainbows all the time. Sometimes, you have to pick to love someone even when you do not want to; when you do that, it makes you love them so much more.  Stay through the parts you do not love, but say I will love them anyway.  When you are really committed to someone, and there is that deep-down love, you will go through the ups and downs.  You will give up on them if it is just an on-the-surface love.

Jennifer

Love is wanting better for someone else than you have for yourself.  Jennifer feels you know you are in love when you can’t picture life without them.

Julie

Love is when you can be yourself and feel content.  You know everything will be great with this person, and you can handle anything together.

Ashton

Love is feelings and actions.  Actions would be how you treat other people and how you treat yourself.  Self-love.  Sometimes, love is being tough with others.  Tough love. Doing and saying what is right. Ashton shared that she is dating a meteorologist.  I asked if he predicted rain when his leg twitched.  She said he shakes his magic eight ball.  

Naomi

Love is being safe.  Love allows you to be yourself.  You do not have to put on a mask.  I threw in another question and asked Naomi if she believed in love at first sight.  She said that she did not.  She met her husband when he was fourteen.  They went to high school together.  She thought he was a dorky-looking kid.  Namoi said that as you mature, your criteria for love matures.  It’s not all fun and games.  It’s not all about what you do together. It is who you are together.

Dalena

Different types and stages of love.  When you find out you are pregnant, it is instant love, and that love is stronger than anything. 

Met her husband at age sixteen.   Over the years, their relationship has changed.  Going through peaks and valleys over the years.  It has now evolved into a stronger relationship than they had initially.  How they love each other today differs from how they loved each other during the early years of marriage.  Learning and growing together over the years.  Dalena and Felix celebrated their twenty-second anniversary this past week. 

Lexi

Love is being so comfortable with someone that you can truly be yourself.

The love you share with your partner and your love for your children is different.  The love you have for your children is unconditional.  The love for your partner, well, that love is very “fucking conditional.”

Well, Camden, Adalie, and Reed, I hope you will someday enjoy going back and reading these thoughts shared with you by my friends who know something about Valentine’s Day and Love.  We had great conversations.

I think of my conversation with Diane and agree that love can hit you anytime and at any age.  Love never ends.  Love for your family, friends, neighbors, and the earth differs from romantic love.  But it is still love.

Love others by showing them respect and empathy.  A kind word, smile, and gesture go a long way.  It has been said that people often do not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.  Be interested in others.

Love can hurt.  It can hurt a lot.  The loss of someone close to you.  A person or pet.  Remember, no one is promised tomorrow.  Every chance you get, remind someone that you love them.  Romantic love can also hurt.  Give it all you have.

I love each of you very much.  I see your mom, aunt, and uncle in each of you.  It is like loving them all over again.

After Adalie’s birthday party today, Gaga and I will leave for a trip south of the border.  A resort in Mexico.

When we return, I will begin radiation treatments for that BAT they found in my head.  Oh, I am sorry you are probably not familiar with medical jargon.  That is okay; ladies at the CyberKnife center were also unaware of BAT.  I was surprised. I educated them. 

Big Ass Tumor…that is BAT.  They have found a Big Ass Tumor in my head.  Damn!  Damn!!  Damn!!!

It is not good.  We shall see how this shakes out. 😊

Talk to you soon.  Love you.

Papa