Happy Valentine's Day!

It's funny how worlds collide.  Just last week a group of friends and I were giving another friend suggestions for what to get his daughters for Valentine's Day.  Seems our friend was in a quandary as to what to give them because he was trying to avoid buying them candy.  One of his girls had a cavity recently and he didn't want to encourage her sweet tooth.   I responded and told him he should get them flowers, because I had never forgotten when my dad sent me flowers one year for Valentine's Day.  I was probably only 7 or 8 years old and he sent my mom, my sister, and me each a bouquet.  It was official - he was the coolest dad ever.

On the bouquet my dad sent me there was a pendant that had an opening for a flower.  You could put a little water in it and wear a rosebud or some other delicate flower.  I still have it.  I don't wear it, but it hangs on the hooks with my other necklaces.  Over the years, it's gotten a bit dingy and some of the silver plate has peeled off, but I will never get rid of it.

Flash forward thirty years.  My dad brought me flowers for Valentine's Day today.  He's normally quite resistant to these holidays, because he thinks they're all manufactured by Hallmark.  I honestly think he's behind the conspiracy that stopped my mother from giving me Easter baskets when I hit 20.  That being said, something opened up in his heart today and he bought treats for all the ladies in his life (my mom, my sister, my aunt, my niece, and me).

So, here's to the dads who pretend they don't love all these holidays.  Just remember, you may not like all the manufactured cheer, but your kids will remember it forever.  I love you, Daddy.

And to my mom: Please do not interpret this post as a dig against the very sweet rose bush you got me this year.  I love it and it's prominently displayed in the center of my kitchen table.  It's just more surprising when dads do these things.  You're my mom, so I probably take it for granted that you're going to get me a Valentine.  Now if we could just get back to those Easter baskets... :)

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  I hope you have a song in your heart on this day specially filled with love.