To dash off your own memory of a Valentine’s Day, you may want to start with a sentimental verse to put in your memoir.
Violets are blue
Chocolate is sweet,
And so are you.”
The sweetest joys, however, might not always be so sentimental.
Valentine Memories
Like my memory of a grab bag filled with valentine cards that each fifth grade student had to bring and read when picked.
As my turn came, I opened my card with a big red heart on the cover and read:
“If I had a nickel for every time I thought of you,
I might think of you more often.”
My friend Lillian made a face and read:
As Lillian and I walked home after school, we both decided that boys had picked those corny cards to put in the grab bag.
Chocolate may be the big message of love on Valentine’s Day, but I didn’t get wooed with candy until I was in grade twelve. It was my first big red heart box filled with See’s delicious chocolates and a card.
The card showed a shapely cave man, clad in a leopard skin, brandishing a huge club as he chortled, “I bin a love-starved and a-glowerin’ in my den. Don’t you know I need some lovin’, every, now and then?”
Needless, to say, I never showed that card to my daddy—the very southern daddy that might meet the boy-friend at the door.
In dashing off your own Valentine Memories, the following questions may help.
- Were you spurned or wooed on Valentines Day?
- What kind of Valentine cards did you get?
- Do you remember who you gave a first box of chocolates to?
- Did you ever coo a proposal such as: “Wilt thou be my Valentine? Say thou wilt—and we’ll spend the rest of our lives beneath the same quilt?”
- Did you ever have a favorite Valentine chocolate drink?
Cupid flies an arrow in the air with a recipe to add to your memoir, a scrumptious little chocolate drink for dessert at the end of an evening seduction to enjoy with your loved one, a gift presented with hearts, flowers, candlelight, and music. All you say is, “I made this especially for you.”
Cappuccino Delight…With A Touch of Brandy And Chocolate
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2 cups strong black coffee, piping hot
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2 cups half-and-half
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6 ounces brandy
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Whipped cream
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Chocolate shavings
Combine coffee, half-and-half and brandy in a saucepan and heat, but do not boil. Pour into a demitasse, or coffee cups. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. makes about 4-6 cups. Enjoy!
daskarles©2011
Thanks Dorothy. Fridays would not be the same without you.
L.A. Lopez says
I had the usual Valentines a child, from friends and classmates. The one person who spurned me at Valentines, was my ex-husband. He thought the practice to be old fashion, silly and somewhat barbaric. So no cards or chocolates. In the 13yrs of marriage, I don't recall ever receiving anything from him, no one card or anything. It's changed my view of the holiday, where I dismissed it to shelter my hurt feelings. But I got those fun silly cards made by children that to this day I still cherish.
Rosi says
Every year in grade school, we would take a shoe box to school, decorate it, make a wide slot in the top, and waiting for Valentine's Day, and hoping for a nice, full box with wonderful surprises inside. Some kids tore them open and went through their trove right there. Not me. I carried it home, full of anticipation and dread. Would there be a Valentine from Butch or Greg? Would my box be nearly empty? Sometimes it was a terrible day, sometimes quite a wonderful day.
bernadine says
In grade school I too exchanged Valentines with my classmates. I carefully went through the package of 18 or 24 cards, selecting specific juvenile picture representations for each student.
I always gave a Valentine to everyone in the class, but generally most students came up a bit shy, but not much, of getting a Valentine in their box from everyone.I remember counting our Valentines, to see how many we received, and numbers were always within a couple of each other.
However, I do recall, the 'outcasts' in our class, the couple of kids who just didn't quite fit in with everyone else. And, it never ceased to amaze me, that every Valentine's day they were the kids whose Valentine boxes were overflowering and their number of Valentines always surpassed the majority of their classmates. And they were always so happy to be remembered on Valentine's day with messages of love. It does bring back good memories. bernadine
Dorothy Ann Skarles says
How sad La. It's good he is an ex. My husband on special occasions would put a fresh flower at the window where I would do dishes and be able to see it. I really miss seeing that flower when I am in the kitchen.
Dorothy Ann Skarles says
Hi Rosi, what a nice story. I remember one time when we put our names on the card to tell who they were from. The girls would all count how many boys gave them cards, and when I only got one, I would feel bad. I liked the fifth grade better where everyone got a card, and you would have to guess if one was from a boy or not.
Dorothy Ann Skarles says
Bernadine, I bet you were a popular and kind little girl to make sure every one got a Valentine card. Thanks for sharing.