The Day After

By the time I post this, it will be the day after Valentine’s Day. Here are a few of my initial observations.
 

The day began with texting my kids to wish them Happy Valentine’s Day and reading the headlines dripping with all of the ways one can exclaim, “I love you.”  

There are always those who seem a bit cranky because they think it’s a day for the card and candy companies to make a big profit.

“This day was made for card companies to make a buck off of all the love sick suckers out there! What a waste of money. What about those people who don’t have a sweetheart or spouse? What are they supposed to do?” 

That made me think for a minute, but then I thought, nah, a sweetheart isn't required in order to enjoy this day.  I thought about all of the creative ways people show their love. Of course there are the memories of candy hearts and classmates decorating sacks, roses from my kids when they were teenagers, cards from grandmothers, friends, and teachers—then I called my mom.  

Well, I made some Valentine brownies, you know with the red sprinkely stuff you put on top, except they didn’t turn out as good as my regular brownies. Then I took some to Evelyn, you know Evelyn, the lady who can’t hear a thing and she was so happy. Then I took some to Grace but she still wasn’t home from the hospital.  I knew because her porch light was on. You know she’s the skinny lady who picks up all the leaves and cleans the yard out here under the oak trees. She always dresses in those weird outfits with pants under long skirts and wears droopy hats. She works so hard picking up branches. Then I went to Alice’s but I forgot she passed away last week. You know Alice the blind lady. Her apartment was just outside my bedroom window.  She was so nice. I was going to take her some of these red brownies.  You know these brownies are special because you can sprinkle white and pink on top and make a heart shape. They’re like a cake mix---not as good as my regular brownies.

Anyway, I was checking on everybody, taking them some brownies. I did my laundry yesterday—just my darks. The cleaning lady cancelled again and you know it’s so nice to have fresh sheets so I went ahead and did my navies. Then I took Virgil, you know the man who walks his dog everyday and always stops so we can pet Ginger? Sometimes he comes in and visits, says a prayer before he leaves, for my leg that’s been hurting—it’s so numb.

Yes, I took brownies to Virgil, Alice the blind lady, Evelyn, Grace, oh and Jo, the nurse who always checks on me and I check on her. I’m having a nice day.

If I had to choose the best Valentine’s Day, Mom’s would win hands down.