Josie's Valentine Workshop

Yesterday I made Valentines for all the kids and teachers at my school. It was a lot!

Meema helped. She cut out hearts and then I painted them. I put roses on some. 

While the paint was drying, I ate a giant pancake leftover from breakfast. Meema always makes some extra pancakes for me to sneak.

The paint still wasn't dry, so I played in The Room. Dolly was acting up. She would Not take a nap and then she wanted to climb the tree. And when I gave her a bath, she splashed all the water out. I told her That's It and put her under the covers to think about it. 

After lunch the paint was dry. I told Meema what to write on the backs of the valentines. Then I glued buttons to the front for decorations. 

I think they look very good, and I think the kids will like them. We will have a party at school on Valentine's Day and I will give out the valentines. There are some for the teachers too and for my family. It was a lot of work but it was fun too.

 

One Perfect Rose

A single flow'r he sent me, since we met. All tenderly his messenger he chose; Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet - One perfect rose. I knew the language of the floweret; 'My fragile leaves,' it said, 'his heart enclose.' Love long has taken for his amulet One perfect rose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.

Dorothy Parker

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day, 1964 - Camp Lejeune, NC . My husband was an enlisted man in the Marine Corps. We had only been married since November and we were living in a tiny silver trailer surrounded by many other tiny silver trailers grouped tastefully around communal dumpsters. The Marine Corps officially designated Geiger Park as "sub-standard housing" and I suppose it was but we hardly noticed.

The little trailer was snug and clean and wood-paneled -- much like living on a boat. And on that first Valentine's Day of our marriage, my husband brought me a spray of wild plum blossoms from the nearby woods, centered in a metal coat hanger bent into the shape of a heart.

It's been forty-four years -- we're still together -- and the memory still makes me smile.

Valentine hugs to all of you!