When I was a kid, it was so much fun to make valentines for each member of my class. Valentine’s Day is healing in many ways. I felt the good feeling of doing something for someone else.
Looking back in time, I now realize that Mom was probably just looking for projects to keep me and my three sisters busy for a couple of afternoons. We cut and paste, trim and fold. I loved the color pink, so it was no surprise when all of my Valentines had more pink in them and that the pink crayon in our sisters’ shared set of crayons dominated a bit.
Mom made sure we took a break with hot chocolate and marshmallows on the porch so we didn’t mess up our Valentine and so we didn’t get too tired before we accomplished our mission. It was an exciting time of the school year.
Being the youngest of the four, Mom helped my crushes “just a little bit” to keep them presentable. We lived on a simple budget, so the only store-bought package Valentines had to be shared between us. A box of Valentine’s Day candy was also purchased and we carefully put a piece of candy in each Valentine. I had four valentines from the store and twenty-two homemade valentines when I left for school the morning of Valentine’s Day.
Of course, my teacher would buy a store-bought Valentine and I had also made the largest homemade one for her. Then there were my two best friends, Elaine and Joanna. I had made them at homemade valentines plus a valentines store. I had one Valentine store left and couldn’t think of one more person to give it to. It was so special.
My teacher had set aside the afternoon to exchange Valentine’s cards. It was hard for everyone to think about school work when so much was going to happen that day. All morning I looked around the room to see someone who would be receiving my last special Valentine’s store. I discussed it with my two friends and they also made suggestions, but the ones who suggested were more their friends and I was a “chaperone”.
Then it was time for the exchange and the energy level of the classroom rose to a roar. Notes flying around the room and everyone smiling. I have twenty-four valentines. Most of my Valentines also had a piece of candy, so I thought I had a pretty good exchange. Valentine is healing in many ways and I knew he had many friends.
Through all the excitement, I clearly forgot about my last Valentine’s store special. As I walked from the bus home, I remembered. When I turned the last corner, Dad’s car was parked in the driveway. Love grew inside of me and I had such a good idea. I ran into the house, got out the crayons and paper.
I did one more Valentine. A big one with a lot of pink because he knew that mom liked pink too. That’s probably where I got the idea for it to be my color. I wrote “I love you” on the back of both valentines. Then I gave the Valentine from a store to Dad and the homemade Valentine to Mom.
They were so surprised that Dad took me in his arms and told me that he had never had such a sweet “Milly” in his life. I knew it was special. It was the first dawn in my little heart that I was born from my “best friends”.
Now that I’m older, I still remember the good times we had around Valentine’s Day. I’ve lost track of my first grade friends, but the memories of the love I felt from my parents will live on forever. Valentine’s Day is healing in many ways. Valentine’s Day is one more opportunity to heal a heart by saying the three words, “I love you.”
