Valentimes...

Unless you are the mother of a nine-year old girl, or a fourth grade teacher, you may not realize what a important day it is tomorrow in our schools here in Las Vegas. You see, on Friday, there is a staff development day planned, so no students will be at school. That means, that TOMORROW, THURSDAY, is the BIG DAY.

I went for a quick trip to the market tonight to pick up milk and oranges and a couple of things. I drove into the parking lot, and was --- for a minute -- astounded at how busy it was! But, I immediately realized why so many cars were there, and the parking lot was filled with moms and little kids. They were all rushing in, at the last minute, to get their Valentines! The place was packed with elementary aged kids, agonizing over the choices left in the pick-over section where all the cards, candy and doo-dads were stacked.

Now, I know that probably some parent hadn't realized until today that they needed the cards tomorrow. Or maybe some people were counting their coins to make sure that they'd have enough to pick up the cards today. I know that some of my students have been laboring for a while, hand-making their cards. That's what happened at our house during those certain elementary years when my daughters wanted just the exact right cards to convey to all their friends how much they adored them on this day of love.

It isn't about "love" when you're nine. Oh, maybe there is a certain boy you might have a little crush on, and so you get or make an especially nice card for him. But mostly it is about the fun, the candy, the tradition. At nine, most of your passions are directed at your best friends---usually the same gender as you. Valentine's Day is just a chance to show them, officially, that they mean something to you. I love Valentine's Day as a teacher. It is really important to my students, so it is really important to me. We'll have fun tomorrow, during our subdued celebrations, with our mandated "healthy" treats, and everyone will enjoy opening their cards and squealing.

My 11 year-old granddaughter sent me this photo of the Valentines that she has been making for her friends. They contain a little word search and a dot-to-dot---all made by her, of course.

She inherited this attention to detail, and craftsmanship, from her mother who is shown here at a slightly younger age, making Valentines at the dining room table. Note her trusty assistant: Eskimo Pie, the pet rat.