Happy Valentine’s Day!
To all my ever-loving readers:
Did you receive anything? Did you give those you love anything? Do you consider this day just an excuse for the greeting card, chocolate, and flower industries to coax us in a rather unsubtle way to buy more stuff (not that there’s anything wrong with that)? Do people (mostly women, I’d imagine) get too demanding on this day? Is it a burden rather than a pleasure? Or do you love, love, love it?
I have an odd relationship to Valentine’s Day. It just so happens that, completely through chance and unrelated to the holiday, I’ve had some hard experiences on that day in the past. So I have no particular affection for it for historical reasons. Plus, as those who read here regularly probably know, for the last couple of decades I’ve been unable to eat chocolate without getting a migraine. Waahh! Woe is me!
But there used to be a wonderful Valentine’s Day candy that I’d look forward to all year: smallish sugar-coated red pectin hearts that were bright in color, cherry in flavor, and achingly, meltingly soft although with a slight toothsome resistance at the same time.
In short, they were perfect. And in due time, they stopped making them. Oh, you still can find cherry jelly hearts galore, but no pectin ones without those little nonpareil thingees on each heart, spoiling the delectable softness with their crunch.
[NOTE: This is a slightly-updated version of a previous post.]
My earworm-brain has evidently made me a “present” of Rach’s Vocalise today, and though I don’t think it especially St. Val’sDay stuff, it’s still got a fair bit of the romantic about it — for an infliction, not so tough — so here ya go, have some: https://youtu.be/6rrkae_ok8Y?si=mNKZVSc7mIaodEUD
It’s not that I do or don’t appreciate Val Day, it’s that, like my birthday, I don’t even know when it occurs. This year my daughter wrote me the day after reminding me I was older. She doesn’t hold holidays dear either. She just likes to bug me about it.
Only the big, everyone’s involved, holidays really register.
Odd trifecta too: St. Val’s, Ash Wednesday, and the cherry-on-top! — pitchers and catchers report to camp.
It’s also the anniversary of the Battle of St Vincent in 1797. “Nelson’s patented boarding bridge”.
Perhaps you, Neo, would like the raspberry/blackberry gummy candies that are coated with tiny crunchy nonpareils? Yum!
And many hearts and flowers to you for the delight you bring to us all year long!
I have a garden in which flowers bloom every month of the year. I can’t have cut flowers in the house because they set off my allergies. I have a Christmas cactus inside, merrily blooming for Lent, confused thing, and orchids on a windowsill, with three blooming now and one more coming. So my husband doesn’t need to feel guilty about not buying roses at current outrageous prices.
I second RigelDog’s well-worded thanks!
I personally can’t stand the day, but my wife likes it and I like her, so early in our marriage I learned to adapt. Valentine’s Day seems like a day for young or new lovers. Our wedding anniversary is the significant day, in my mind.
Because Valentine’s Day falls on Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting, no chocolates or other treats will be consumed today.
I also learned early in our marriage that my wife loves getting flowers. It seems most all women do*. Logically it seemed odd to me. We’ve always shared our money in joint accounts, so any money I spend on flowers for her is less money she has to buy something else. And, flowers die. But I saw how much she appreciated the gesture so nearly every 7 – 14 days since we have been married I buy her fresh flowers. She almost never gets them from me on Valentine’s Day because florists artificially hike their prices so much on this day. But we do have a beautiful bouquet of roses in the house now that I bought about 5 days ago.
*I’ve advised many, many newly married men to buy their wives flowers often. It’s such an easy thing to do and it really buys a lot of goodwill with the wife. I don’t think any have ever taken my advice.
Pitchers and catchers report – yeah baby! And I’ll be working remotely from Phoenix for a week in March. Spring Training! Something I’ve always wanted to do, but never have.
Pitchers and Catchers Report day — a day more significant than Ground Hog Day. Winter is officially, and definitely, on the wane. Oh joy!
When I was a kid baseball was still the national pasttime and all American boys played the game. ALL boys, even if you were consigned to right field. Pitchers and Catchers was then a day for celebration.
P.S. High hopes for my beloved Chicago Cubs. As always . . . I mean, so far, they haven’t lost a game this year!
Cactus League map-eration: https://cactusleague.com/map.php and https://www.mlb.com/spring-training/cactus-league/map
They seem to ignore the ol’ admonition: “Don’t Bunch Up!“. Must not be much arty-fire?
Oh, and where’s Belli goin’? I’m hoping he stays, myself.
Because Valentine’s Day falls on Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting, no chocolates or other treats will be consumed today.
This morning I purchased a box of chocolates and a card from the sisters who run the Franciscan Hospital gift shop (I was there for a session of cardio rehab). I asked the sister at the cash register whether it was okay to cheat on our Ash Wednesday fast and nibble on the sweets with my sweetie. Maybe make a wee exception? She just smiled.
Didn’t know you were a Cubs fan IrishOtter49. Even though I’m a displaced Reds fan I get to Wrigley about 6-8 times a year. Sometimes, when I’m sitting in the stands on a perfect day, I wonder why they bothered inventing other sports.
A box of chocolates, not a Heart – extra money for the box, and flowers A Mixed Bouquet with few Roses. The Roses die to quickly. But I get my Wife flowers maybe once a month.
I love that a Valentine’s Day post turned into Spring Training comments.
I remember watching a comedian talk about giving his wife flowers. She goes on about how sweet and beautiful they smell. She then asks him to smell them and what does he smell? He replies fifty bucks.
What I really, really don’t understand about St Valentine’s Day is that the Chinese and Japanese seem to gone into this holiday in a big way.
My wife and I basically ignored the day. I guess that’s what 40+ years of marriage does.
Spouse got a dozen red roses
https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/bouquet-of-roses-10328
Some assembly required.
RE: The decline in world-wide populations
While some people have and continue to sound the alarm about overpopulation, in fact, what is actually happening around the world is just the opposite; a pretty much worldwide decline in birthrates and populations, such declines taking place in major countries in the developed West such as France and Germany, but even more dramatically in some of the nations of the East–particularly in China, Japan, and South Korea.
Of even more consequence is the news that these dramatic population declines in China and Japan are now apparently irreversible.
A case in point, Japan.
See below a video which goes into detail about the factors–including cultural, social, economic, and legal factors–which make it very unlikely that Japan will pull out of it’s steep population decline and diminishment.*
* See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6mPyQR-gis
I think I might have been spam trapped.
Mike Plaiss:
Oh, yes indeed, I am a Cubs fan! Have been literally ever since I can remember. I grew up just across the Howard St. border (by Cavalry Cemetery), which makes me a northsider by birth, which means I am a Cubs fan by birth. In a more innocent time, when I was about 8 years old or so, my parents would let my brother and I take the El, unchaperoned, to Cubs games — which were all played during the day, of course. Like so many (most?) Boomer children, we were Free Range Kids, and my parents thought nothing of letting us travel to and attend games by ourselves at Wrigley Field.
My hero was Ernie Banks, and as far as I’m concerned the main Cubs broadcaster was Jack Brickhouse (not Harry Carey).
The Cubs broke my heart in 1969. Oh, my, was that season to remember! Wild, traumatic — and GREAT fun.
They redeemed themselves — and how! — in 2016. Wow. Now THERE was a celebration! IMO (and evidently, in the opinion of many others) Game 7 was one of the greatest, perhaps THE greatest, MLB game ever played.
I still get a high just thinking about it.
Totally agree with you re sitting in the Wrigley grandstands, watching a game in that Temple of Baseball. I attended more games, as a kid, that I can count. Win or lose, I am and always will be a diehard Cubs fan.
I don’t know. I suppose there are plenty of cynical folks who see the downside, but it is an invitation to express affection, and it can be done simply.
My wife starts chemo on Friday for Ovarian Cancer that has metastasized to an unknown extent. So this year is especially significant, but still simple. Now that we have celebrated our 65th anniversary, a gentle expression of enduring devotion suffices. A bouquet of roses and a card that took more thought than I usually give to those were well received..
A 2lb box of Sees chocolates has become a bit of a traditional part of any occasion. A visit to a Sees shop testifies to how much they love occasions of any kind. But a daughter preempted me this Valentines.
Speaking of inflation. The price of chocolate is staggering. This may not be altogether Biden’s doing. I just read that poor conditions in the African country (forget which) that is the major supplier of Cocoa has led to a world wide shortage,
Snow on Pine,
I believe global population decline will be one of the most significant challenges of the next 50 – 100 years. Huge. Interesting the U.N. doesn’t seem focused on it, especially its affects on human caused climate change. Fewer humans, less change? Right? Right?
On this subject (Valentine’s Day and climate) I highly recommend neo’s heartthrob, Dr. Jordan Peterson’s interview of Scott Tinker. Excellent, sensible discussion on the issue: https://youtu.be/fp_k47uS2DA?si=yL_jmEGtjbv6zEJU
Oldflyer:
Healing prayers and thoughts for you and your wife.
Oldflyer,
Prayers to your wife and you as she begins chemotherapy.
God bless you both.
P.S.–It appears that one of chief culprits causing this steep population decline is modernization–the change from a primarily agricultural society to an industrial one.
In an agricultural society having more children is not that costly, and confers the positive benefit of having more unpaid labor on the farm.
In a city, likely living in a small apartment, and having some sort of industrial/technical job, working long hours, and having, paying for, and raising children–especially multiple children–now becomes a much more expensive proposition in both time and money.
To add another complication, moving away from farms also means moving away from the common practice of several generations living together, so now young parents with children and, as well, aging family members, are often without the family support system they used to have, and now have to rely more on the state for the help and care they used to get from their nearby extended family members.
I note also that male sperm counts have reportedly suffered a major decline in recent years.
Cause?
Who knows.
Oldflyer, I’m sorry to hear about your wife, but glad that Valentine’s Day gave you the chance for some gentle, well-placed affection. She sounds like a fortunate lady, with both you and a daughter seeing to her comfort and pleasure. I’m hoping for the best for all of you.
Like physicsguy mrs. walsh and I largely ignore the day. Other than that we exchange cards – hers with a lovely message to me, mine to her with a loving but silly poem or limerick or haiku. If we go out to dinner to celebrate it is not on the 14th, too busy.
Happy Valentines!
Oldflyer, prayers and best wishes to you and your wife.
Now that we have celebrated our 65th anniversary, a gentle expression of enduring devotion suffices.
OldFlyer:
You are blessed and you know it.
Best to both of you.
Oldflyer:
Best wishes to you and your wife for a successful treatment and many more years together, healthy.
RE: China as the land of “shortcuts and facades”
Communist propaganda portrays China as a land of many ultra modern, progressive, glittering cities, with it’s most populated city, Chongqing, at 30 million inhabitants, and with the municipality occupying a land area of more than 32,000 square miles, being one of them.
But which is the real, essential Chongqing?
The high tech, glittering, and futuristic Chongqing of tourist videos. *
Or, sited among, and beyond the glittering center city landmarks, Chongqing’s dystopian “urban villages,” pictured below as being full of grim, crowded, decrepit multi-story tenements, often cut off from the sun, and with dark, narrow, winding, labyrinthine walkways; cheap housing for the many lower income Chinese who came from the rural countryside to find work in the big city.**
The mashup of these two worlds reminds me of scenes from the SF movie “Bladerunner.”
* See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzl4jc9E5GU
** See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSNUk4HjjrY
Oldflyer–
Prayers for you and your wife.
Oldflyer – sending some Hearts and Flowers to your and your beloved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8Hio0ZLd7c
Rufus,
Great advice! If she’s a woman who loves getting flowers. And most are.
I once had a long term serious relationship with a man that eventually didn’t work out (all for the best as it happened) but he gave me flowers every Friday and I still remember that with affection.
And then there’s the whole Joe Di Maggio/Marilyn roses thing.
I think every woman thinks Wow. Just Wow.
Oldflyer.
Chemo can be rough, I hope it is not A/C. Extra rough.
Prayers for you and your wife.
Dear Oldflyer:
I send my prayers for you and your wife.
I am going to be so rude I hope you will forgive me, but I am troubled by a new strategy at our hospitals and clinics and would like to ask you a question.Please forgive me. Here in my town, after the age of 65 if you don’t report pain specific to the female anatomy, they don’t automatically do those specific exams. You have to ask specifically for that exam. I don’t mean to be rude or unkind, but can you tell us was that the same process for your wife?Did she have to ask for an exam, or is this just standard procedure here where we live–I worry about this.
Take good care of your wife and be sure that either you or your daughter, or someone you trust is there with her at all times while she is in hospital. Double check the medicine before they put it into the intravenous tube. My brother-in-law survived many years with cancer and I often saw his wife ask to see the vial of medicine before it was inserted into the tube. She did that to verify the right medicine that had been prescribed was being used. These times are so different than what we grew up expecting.
Oldflyer,
Prayers for healing for your wife.
Back when the Cubs were perennial Lovable Losers, sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field was like Heaven on Earth…until the game started.
Prayers for your wife and you, Oldflyer.
Valentine’s Day is one of my pet peeves. Now, I’m a very happily married woman (35 years) who still loves my husband dearly, but for 25 of those years I taught 20-somethings and I came to hate V-Day during that time.
It’s such a stressful day for people that age If they’re not in a relationship, it depresses them. If they’re in a relationship then there’s stress if both individuals aren’t involved to the same extent, which is usually the case at that young age. There is so much coercion from the popular culture that these kids can’t just let it pass by. (I watch a lot of sports and I always know V-Day is coming because suddenly there are a huge number of jewelry ads on. “You better be getting her a ring or else!!” is the unstated message.)
I am glad for the people who use V-Day as a day to tell a loved one how much you appreciate them. That’s what it should be.
Not the same…but may be similiar!! https://www.candynation.com/jelly-belly-red-raspberry-hearts
Oldflyer, my heart goes out to you and your wife. Praying for her successful treatment and recovery. What a blessing to celebrate a 65th wedding anniversary!
wendybar:
But I don’t like those little crunchy nonpareil things. They ruin the delectable melt-in-your-mouth quality of the pectin jelly part.
Opps….misunderstood your post. I thought you wanted them..My bad!! I hope you find something similiar to your beloved candy!!