According to legend, Saint Valentine of Rome was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers
who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire. Also according to legend, children threw notes and flowers through the prison bars.
February 14h is a day to remember friends and loved ones.
❤
My first valentine memories are of red construction paper, blunt scissors, and white paper folded then notched to make "lace" for cards for Dad, Mom, and my two brothers.
Schooldays brought penny valentines, a beautifully-trimmed box on the teacher's desk, cookies or cupcakes and watery red punch. It meant checking the list of names to make sure I had a card for every classmate. Sometimes I received a card with a penny sucker attached. Or a tiny white heart with "Be My Valentine," written in red. My heart pounded when one came from a boy I secretly liked.
Being a friend
For the past 39 years I have lived in a quiet cul-de-sac between two east-west streets with a half-block, north-south street in front of my home. Everyone knows me. The school bus stops in front of my house. Moms and Dads walk babies and dogs. Grinning kids scoot past on skateboards. Homesick college students from Japan, Korea, etc. brighten when they see my smiling Grandma-face. Young and old wave at me through my living room picture window and stop to visit when I am doing yard work. They share their joys and sorrows. I feel privileged.
When I can catch the mailman or trash collectors, my "How about some quick energy?" and a couple small peppermint patties bring smiles and thanks.
❤
One of my favorite poems is by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911). Now I live it.
"The House by the Side of the Road”
There
are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;
But let me live by the side of the road
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;
But let me live by the side of the road
And
be a friend to man.
I
see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-
Both parts of an infinite plan;
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
❤
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-
Both parts of an infinite plan;
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
❤
I have always wanted my life to count; to help make the world a little better place. Living in my modest house by the side of the road helps me achieve that goal.
May you be blessed with a happy Valentine's Day,
Colleen
4 comments:
Happy V-Day, Colleen! Enjoy the love of neighbors and friends in your house by the side of the road.
Yes. They are a blessing . . . as are all my friends.
In my elementary school we decorated shoe boxes with crepe paper, cut-out hearts, doilies, and other "fancy" trimmings and brought them to school on St. Valentine's Day. That's where we put all the cards we collected. We gave cards to every member of our class, as well as to teachers.
I hope your Valentine's Day was filled with love.
So many good memories! Always special days, along with our class Christmas parties. If I remember right, we had those up through at least 8th grade. We drew names and brought gifts that didn't cost more than a few dollars. I remember taking books and then trading with people so I could take them back home! There were decorated trees in our classrooms, etc. I will have to post about those days come December.
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