My favorite approach to Valentine’s Day is still the elementary school version. It was about friendship. It was about acknowledging everyone (especially friends) and giving everyone a card—even the little booger eater in the corner. Before you ask, no, that was not me. I wish. That guy is a billionaire today.
The one bad thing was that the cards I bought weren’t all the same, so there was some anxiety in addressing them (maybe that’s why I get a little nervous every year at this time). In a way, it forced you to rank your classmates—Julie and Sheri had to get “special” cards (but not too special—you couldn’t openly admit you “liked” them). Dolores and Zola needed to get the “I like you” cards (but not the “like” like you ones). The “best pal” card was for your best friend Fred and there was an array of cards expressing middle-of-the-road sentiments that were safe to give to anyone.
The “be mine” cards were burned.
It was a fun day, but I think the one-size-fits-all cards are a much better way to go. Much less pressure—and I would still have been able to smile at Julie while putting a card into her nicely decorated Valentine's (shoe) box. Mine was Reynolds wrapped every year.
Anyway, to me Valentine’s Day will always be (at least partially) about friendship. So Happy Valentine’s Day to you, my blog friends, and to your families!!!
PS – Or, as they say on 30 Rock, “Happy Valentime’s Day!”
When we had multi packs of Christmas cards, I did the same and "ranked" my friends as to who would get which one. I don't remember V day parties in school. LOL on your Reynold's wrap box!!! Happy friend day!
ReplyDeleteI had a choice between aluminum foil or plain brown paper (from a grocery bag). Reynolds was the easy choice. Besides, I needed the paper bags for book covers. :)
DeleteIt's interesting that V-Day parties are traditions in some areas and not in others.
I'm playing catch-up after being off-line for a while. I'm not as sick as my wife, so I was a little busy being the responsible spouse/parent.
Happy Valentine's Day, Rick! :)
ReplyDeleteSame to you Krissy!!!
DeleteI remember those little cards! I never ate the candy that wasn't wrapped....what if they went the bathroom and didn't wash their hands. Yup I know. I was a weird kid.
ReplyDeleteWeird? You probably had a booger-eater in your class too and realized nothing unwrapped was safe! Pretty smart. But I'm sure you were weird in other ways. :)
DeleteI used to love the little vday cards! When I was in elementary school, me and my friend spent 3 hours analyzing whether my card that was signed "love, kevin" meant that he actually loved me. Oh those were the days! Hope you had an awesome Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeletexo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
I bet Kevin remembers you--Julie isn't just a name I pulled out of the air. :)
Deletelol, you're right, those were the days!
Happy V Day!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leah!
DeleteHappy Valentines day Ric..i taught my students how to make a love letter for their parents :)
ReplyDeleteThat's very sweet, both sides will treasure the letters in the future.
DeleteToo bad we didn't have that tradition back in our elementary school in Germany, I would have loved to write and to receive cards!! I like the idea of Valentine's Day being about love and friendship in general, not only for those in romantic love.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm so curious about that booger eating kid, maybe you should dedicate a post for him?? :)
Oh yes, that would have been perfect for you and your love of correspondence! :)
DeleteI always made my cards the same due to saving the hassle of trying to write names on them and rank my friends. The way you wrote about "Julie and Sheri had to get “special” cards (but not too special—you couldn’t openly admit you “liked” them)" is just too cute and innocent. I wonder if "Julie" and "Sheri" are their real names.
ReplyDeleteThose are their real names--Julie and I batted our eyes at each throughout elementary school, until her family moved away. Sheri played my wife in a school play--the other boys were jealous. haha!
DeleteHaha, you're so right about the 'be mine' cards. And Zola is such a COOL name
ReplyDeleteZola was nasty, but I can't forget the name. When we were in the 1st grade she BIT me on my upper arm and broke the skin (through my shirt). I didn't tell anyone. After school I put mercurochrome (or something like that) on the marks and put a bandage on it.
DeleteHaha I miss those days! It was fun to receive a box full of cards from everyone in your class, although I don't miss the cramped hands I got after writing out 30 Valentines cards :p
ReplyDeletelol, I think that's why I've failed to send out Christmas cards the past two years--who writes that much anymore??? My hand hurts just thinking about it.
DeleteI still send those little cards for valentines day, it's really fun! hope you had a great valentines day with your wife!
ReplyDeleteThat's neat, keeping the tradition alive. V-day wasn't great, but what the heck....almost everyday is V-day in our house. LOL
DeleteAwww! If only they sold the same card in a pack of ten. You wouldn't have gone through so much trouble!
ReplyDelete