BE MY VALENTINE

How do you think of Valentine's Day? Are you a traditionalist, reserving the day for expressions of devotion between yourself and your sweetheart? Or is it a day when you extend good wishes to special couples you know? Or perhaps it's a day when you send valentine cards to many friends and relatives to wish them a happy Valentine's Day. I have heard of individuals who use Valentine's Day to remember others rather than sending birthday cards throughout the year.

Special dates tend to sneak up on me. For instance, I know that Valentine's Day is February 14, but I fail to realize that I must be ready in advance. So, with the arrival of a valentine card in the mail on Friday (Feb. 11), I realized it was time to buy and send a few cards. Arriving at the local Dollar Tree, I was startled to find the open stock valentines depleted. Gone. Empty slots. Labels denoted that there had been cards for sweethearts and lovers and also for mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, granddaughters, grandsons -- well, you get the picture. Ironically, the few remaining cards were for husbands and wives. Probably half a dozen shoppers stood staring at the empty rack, trying to comprehend how it was that three days before Valentine's Day the shopping was virtually over at this place.

Since I still needed a couple of cards, I went on to Albertson's. I was amazed by the Valentine's Day displays of decadent desserts, varieties of cookies frosted pink and white, strawberries dipped in chocolate, roses, plants, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. More chocolates were located on aisle 11, said the sign. Again I found the cards picked over. Selecting one from the rack, I found it was priced at $5.00 and put it back. I'm philosophically opposed to paying that much.

On to Jo-Ann where once again I found a nearly empty rack. So I went to WalMart where I played shuffle with other shoppers before the rack of cards. I was able to find the cards I needed. There were plenty still available but they were going fast.

Some years ago, I used to buy and mail quite a number of valentine cards, but one year Mike balked. As we were signing the cards, he asked, "Do I have to ask Doug [grandson] to be my valentine? Men do not ask men to be their valentine. Only one person is  my valentine -- you!" Well, I had to admit it was food for thought. The children were still home at the time, and I moved to providing a gift of candy for each instead of a traditional card that was tossed over the shoulder at first glance.

These days, we celebrate Valentine's Day simply. Mike and I exchange cards over a simple supper I have prepared and share a heart-shaped cake. There will not be expensive gifts -- not even a box of candy, thank goodness. Just a comfortable evening shared after Mike's hard day at work.

[The card is a mid-'70s Hallmark sent to Mike and me and signed from my mother and dad. On the back is noted: "From the Hallmark Historical Collection. The cover design is a reproduction of an antique Valentine in the charming style of the Gay Nineties era." This is a flat reproduction of a card that no doubt had a 3-dimensional element. Price: $1.25.]