The Theodore Newsletter

February 1, 2024

Valentine’s Day. February 14. It is a day that has come to mean different things to different people.

How about history? The holiday probably derives from an ancient Roman feast where men and maidens drew partners for the coming year by lottery. The festival later became associated with the feast’s day of two Roman martyrs both named St. Valentine; over the years, St. Valentine has, been regarded as the patron saint of lovers. How about history? There are a host of other tales that have appeared in the literature and media. The most plausible tale? Enter Chaucer. At one time in his career, Chaucer claimed it was the first day of Spring with the mating of birds. Other writings followed that began to tie Valentine’s Day with love and affection. Enter Shakespeare. In Hamlet, Ophelia sang a tune that included the lyrics “…and I a maid at your window, to be your Valentine.”

For most, it is a day to exchange notes and / or cards, hopefully written by you… and not Hallmark. For me, it is simply a day to express one’s feeling of care and love for special people.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the day has become commercialized. It is more than just Hallmark cards. It’s gifts that can vary from candy, to jewelry, to flowers etc. (While courting the Queen during the mid-1960s, I remember sending flowers with the note: “just a reminder that the little guy cares. It scored a touchdown.”). In recent years, sweets – particularly chocolates – have come to replace flowers, with the accompanying rip-offs. Sad, but what the hell, it’s only one day a year.

Many, including your favorite author, have extended the premise of this special day to include love of our country. I often give thanks for having been born, raised, and educated in the US of A. Unfortunately, it seems as if more and more people don’t quite have the same feeling I do — but we can only hope I’m wrong.

I need to end on a positive note. I hope everyone in the reading audience has experienced the thrill of falling in love. It is hard to describe. It really is an indescribable feeling, and I will never forget that special period of my life.

Happy Valentine’s Day to All

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