Saint Valentine's Day ~ Every Day

 

The rose is red, the violet's blue
The honey's sweet, and so are you
Thou are my love and I am thine
I drew thee to my Valentine
The lot was cast and then I drew
And Fortune said it shou'd be you.

Saint Valentine was a christian and a martyr in 496 A.D. Whew, I can somewhat relate. 

It has evolved into this, but we do not make this day or other significantly bold-lettered dates on the calendar more special than just days of the week, either. Or, it could work the other way. I could have Valentine's Day every day, Easter every weekend and my birthday a monthly event ~ it wouldn't matter. WB would not know that we were manipulating the calendar.

Matter of fact, he's had a birthday celebration several times since the first of February and is due for another one next weekend.

But I am guilty of taking Valentine's Day off the calendar and out of the budget several years ago. Long before I knew WB was ailing, the most extravagant floral arrangements would arrive by late afternoon, ordered by Amy or Michelle (daughters). Then, by the next billing cycle, I would have a statement from Bill Johnson Designs to pay.

This, the traditionally celebrated day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionary and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

I do not ever remember us ever going out for a romantic dinner, being serenaded with music, fine wine or candles. But what I remember and will miss today is the ever-faithful greeting card stuffed in a wrong- sized envelope signed, "Me".

How could we show any more love on this day that we do every day? I think we are loved up and loved out. So, instead of making a big deal to overly express our love with abundance, we will not mention the significance of this day. Instead, we will quietly honor the traditions of routine and be thankful for things that do not come in a heart-shaped box.

Happy Saint Valentine's Day!

My name is Rhonda Brantley and my husband, Billy Ray Brantley, suffers from Early Onset Alzheimer's Dementia. This is the best shot we have at documenting daily living.