Valentines around the corner

[ladyauthor2b]

If you've been out about town, surely you've noticed the Valentine items gracing the shelves at the department stores already. Balloons. Soft, plush toys. Large, decorative coffee cups filled with candy. And you can't escape the large heart shaped boxes filled with such decadent chocolates.

If one's significant other is on top of his game, he will plan out making reservations way ahead of time for that favorite resteraunt and place his order for the dozen roses before the price gets astronomical and florists run out. Surely, by now, if you are a working girl, he will know to have these delivered to your office so that your co-workers will be made jealous and gasping on what a good man you have in your life.

Don't get me wrong. I like Valentines, even though for many years, I was one of those co-workers who sat jealous of others receiving such novelty gifts, such as overstuffed baskets filled with bath/shower gels and fragrant lotions, gift certificates to an expensive department store, or a one day visit to a day spa. Man! Some women have trained their guys right!

My man tries, bless his heart. He has learned to buy the single rose with the huge balloon attached and bring it to my desk with some stuffed animal that will blast a tune like "I'm a love machine" for all to appreciate. For awhile there, he'd bring it at home and I'd have to plaster a smile on my face and nod my head in appreciation that he at least remembered me. But then I got wise and started telling him about how my co-workers made such a spectacle of themselves over their ga-ga gifts. I think in my jealous telling he finally realized that I'd like to be the center of attention too. At least on Valentines Day.

It's such a romantic day of the year, to celebrate love in any capacity. I always like to take roses to my mom. It perks her spirits up to see pretty flowers. I also like to buy Hershey kisses for my kids and grandkids. There are always the bake sales where you can pick up pink, white, and red cupcakes sprinkled with tiny, dot candies or jellybeans. Yummy.

What fun. Yet, in my memories, I have also witnessed or recieved other types of gifts. Once I got a rose sitting inside an oval glass filled with water. When you moved it around, little bubbles surrounded the rose. Made for a great effect, but what was I suppose to do with it? Use it as a weighted paper holder?   I do recall it sat on a shelf collecting dust. Ah, an odd gift. But it made me wonder, as I think about this amorous holiday, are there others that got even a stranger token of affection? Do you have any special memories?

Would you share? I'd love to hear. In the meantime I do hope everyone does get remembered one way or another, whether at the office or at home. We all need a little love to get us through the rough spots in our life, right?

Happy Valentines, everyone.