Thursday, February 14, 2008

Valentine's Day...

Valentine's Day...what does it really mean? and isn't it just a commercial holiday? I do think so, BUT....

When my children were small, the International School of Curaçao, as any school around the world, made a big deal of this date. They mad small card for their friend, for their parents and teachers, it was a big deal. There was even a lovely costume...... children could buy sweets or flowers for their friends. Camille used to come home with bags of sweets and armfuls of flowers!!! She was always the one to get the most....... It made her happy and I was pleased; maybe all this was just practice for what was to come later.

As the children grew up and Frank went away to Prep school, Camille was still receiving sweets and flowers. Of course, she also gave sweets and flowers to her friends. It was, after all, a give and take game. As for me, I wrote little notes to both my children every February 14th, lovingly picked and written in longhand, stamped and snail mailed! My children used to keep them for months and years. Even Frankie got his by post, those were the days!! Then this got easier when the Internet came along and we could write emails. Hallmark and Blue Mountain provided us with e-cards! things were easier... but were they better? No, but they were more profitable for sure!!

Valentine's day is certainly a very commercial holiday, but still brings back lovely memories.......and we all love the flowers, the chocolates, the cards, e-cards and presents. So why not? What harm is there in this? None if we stick to home-made presents, flowers and loving notes.