VALENTINE’S DAY: SPENDING IT ALONE (OR NOT) – I HAVE THOUGHTS & IDEAS: gifts, cards, flowers, etc.* – UPDATE 2012
Vol. 2, No. 36, Sunday, January 29th, 2012
TITLE: “VALENTINE’S DAY: SPENDING IT ALONE (OR NOT) – I HAVE THOUGHTS & IDEAS: gifts, cards, flowers, etc.*” – UPDATE 2012
Childhood: At my home, Valentine’s Day was not celebrated. My father did not buy gifts for my mother, although they had a good marriage. However, I do have fond memories from grade school, when I exchanged cards with my school friends. I always hoped to get as many cards as possible. As a youngster, I thought that this told me how popular I was and how many kids in my class liked me. I also got cards from friends other than my class mates.
Erich Wolf Segal, born in Brooklyn N.Y., was an author, screenwriter and Ivy League university professor. His star crossed with the Beatles as he wrote the srceenplay of the 1968 motion picture, “Yellow Submarine”. His fame skyrocketed with the novel, “Love Story”. It was a best-seller and the movie of the same name was a huge hit – it was the number one box office attraction of 1970. Segal authored other books. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease and died in 2010 from a heart attack. He was not known as a master of fluff. Instead, he was recognized as a very intense person whose perseverance was remarkable. (Fact source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia)
SERIES/COLLECTION
Books
Several of his books were:
• [1970], Love Story, Oxford bookworms, Oxford University Press, OCLC 271780786
• (1977), Oliver’s Story, Granada, ISBN 9780246110077
• (1985), The Class, Bantam, ISBN 9780593010044
• (1988), Doctors, Toronto, ISBN 9780553052947
Movies
Several movies based upon Segal’s books were:
• Yellow Submarine (1968)
• Love Story (1970) – Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal starred as the lovebirds. Ray Milland was the father. It was the No. 1 movie of 1970. Tears flowed non-stop.
• Oliver’s Story (1978)
BOOK: “Love Story” by Erich Segal
This was a romantic yarn, borderline soap opera. Yet it worked and struck a chord with baby boomers. Indeed, it became the classic of a generation. Of course, boy meets girl, but there was more, much more. Oliver Barrett IV was a rich kid from a family of blue blood lawyers who became enthralled with a young woman, a mere commoner type. But this lady was smart, spunky and she spoke her mind. Harvard was the place. The boy played rough and tough hockey and studied hard at law school. The girl looked great, had style and was a true lady. “Preppy” was a phrase used often. His parents objected- read – a demanding and over bearing father thought his son could do better. The young man was a real man and stood up for his beloved. They married. He became estranged from his father/parents. The couple was happy. But life got in the way! From this book came one of the great lines of the century: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry!” It sold over 21 million copies in 33 languages. I liked it. I think that it is a candidate meriting to be discovered by generation Y and beyond.
CONCLUSION
A person is better off having love in his or her life. Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate this love.
Most people think that Valentine’s Day is about the love between a man or a woman. My take is different. Let me be clear. I think Valentine’s Day is a celebration of all love. First, it is a celebration of the love between a person and his or her parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, etc. If you are able to love – it means that you can feel. Indeed you are blessed and have a gift. If you are the recipient of love – it gives you a feeling of belonging, being part of a family. Indeed, you are blessed and have a gift. Second, it is a celebration of the love between a person and his or her significant other. If you are able to love – it means that you have passion and are alive. Indeed, you are blessed and have a gift. If you are the recipient of love – It makes you feel loved and complete. Indeed, you are blessed and have a gift.Third, there is another love – the love of pets. While I have an allergy and do not have a pet, I have friends who love their pets. I think that this is great as well. If you have a pet that lovingly wags a tail when you come home, you are blessed and have a gift. If you lovingly pat your pet, when you come home, you are blessed and have a gift.
In my perception, it is important to have love in your life because it makes you flourish. Studies show that a baby that is loved, but barely fed, still grows up happy and healthy. Whereas a baby that is well- fed, but not loved, grows up unhealthy and may even die.
The point
When it comes to love, I say that it is all about a glass of water, 1/2 full and 1/2 empty. Celebrating this day does not require that you now have a man (or woman) in your life. If you are lucky to love and have love, then see the glass 1/2 full and appreciate what you do have. If you want more, then go out and find it! Make your very own “Love Story” – you can do it. There is someone out there perfect for everyone.
Everyone should:
General
1. Make love a part of your life;
2. Recognize the TRUE love that you DO have in your life;
3. Acknowledge your loved ones;
4. Celebrate Valentine’s day – it is a feel good thing to do; If with a living parent,
4.1 Show you care by taking a moment to:
4.1.1 Send a greeting card;
4.1.2 Make a phone call on the day of, saying: ” I love you”; a simple kindness is worth so much!
5. Buy him or her a bag of doughnuts, hot buns, bagels or whatever, if in the same city; giving such is an excuse to go and say you that you appreciate him or her being part of your life!
If with adult children,
6. Invite them for a homemade dinner with all of their favorite dishes;
7. Buy a card – saying that you love a child, even one all grown up, and you are so proud of him or her – saying so NEVER goes out of style! If with a good friend,
8. Buy a little something which suits him or her; thoughtfulness combined with knowledge of the individual plus effort sends a powerful message to your friend: that you are a great friend;
9. Send him or her the name of this post at www.saveandread.com/blog with the phrase, “I appreciate our friendship” – Now that’s something different and an attention getter!
If in a romantic relationship
10.Recognize:
10.1 That the fast pace of daily life makes it difficult for people to nurture a relationship;
10.2 That Valentine’s Day is the moment when a couple should stop and smell the coffee;
10.3 That your efforts to make this a special day for you and your significant other could make a difference in the quality and future success of the relationship;
11. Stop and send the following text message: “I love you!”
12. Make a date -it doesn’t have to be expensive; take advantage of the opportunity to have fun with your better half and enjoy his or her company!
13.Pay attention to a mate, to his or her likes and desires – this will move him or her!
14. Buy something special … as a token of love – it could be a greeting card, flowers (or a single rose) or something personal, (e.g., jewelry, fragrance, clothing, etc.);
15. Make your very best dish with a bottle of wine or bake a dessert that says he or she has been really good!
16. Rekindle the romance in the relationship if that is needed;
If single,
15. Recognize the value of friendship;
16. Pick up a phone or send a text to a friend (platonic) and say: “Hi, let’s have a coffee or do something on Valentine’s day weekend.”
17. Go with your friends to a singles’ event;
18. Have a blast whatever you do!
And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours?*
ALP
“Books are life; and they make life better!*”
The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.
CREDITS
-Web Tech: richmediasound.com
*TM/© 2011, 2012 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
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ANNEX I: NEED SOMETHING FURTHER? TRY AN ANECDOTE OR A QUOTE:
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTE* #1: Bit Brazen?
“The Los Angeles Times once published a Valentine’s Day story on several prominent couples, among them Arnold Schwarzenegger and his lovely wife, Maria Shriver. According to the story, on the very day the couple met, Schwarzenegger told Maria’s mother: “Your daughter has a great body.” Los Angeles Times media critic David Shaw – thinking the comment ‘a bit brazen, even for Schwarzenegger’ -later asked the actor whether he had actually said it. “No,” Schwarzenegger replied. “I said, ‘Your daughter has a nice ass!’”
(Source: Anecdotage) – www.anecdotage.com) -http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=5862
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTE* #2: Happy Valentine’s Day
“In February 2003, Kelly Osbourne’s boyfriend Bert made a surprising announcement during his band’s Valentine’s Day concert. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said. “I love you and you’re my favorite person in the world – but we’re breaking up.”
(Source: Anecdotage) – www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=16288
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTE* #3: “I sent flowers today”
“I sent flowers today,” Dana Carvey announced on Valentine’s Day, 2005. “I got this Lebanese florist. He says, ‘What do you want to say on the card?’ ‘Okay, darling sweeetheart -’ ‘Darling sweeetheart – What else? What else? What else? What else?’ ‘I love you so much your mere touch excites me.’ ‘Mere touch excites me. What else? What else? What else? What else?’ And the finally, he says, ‘I have a suggestion: Why don’t you say, “If you ever leave me I will hunt you down and kill you and your lover.” They love the passion.’”
(Source: Anecdotage) – www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=21167
S & R* QUOTE #1: Amy Bloom
“All intimacy is rare — that’s what makes it precious. And it involves the revelation of one’s self and the loving gaze upon another’s true self (no makeup, no fancy car, no defensive charm, no seduction) — that’s what makes it so damn hard. Intimacy requires honesty and kindness in almost equal measure (a little more kindness, I think), trust and trustworthiness, forgiveness and the capacity to be forgiven . . . It’s more than worth it — just don’t let them tell you it’s bilss.”
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://www.wisdomquotes.com/topics/love/)
S & R* QUOTE #2: Eleanor Roosevelt
“The giving of love is an education in itself.”
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://www.wisdomquotes.com/topics/love/)
S & R* QUOTE #3: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
“The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.|
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://www.wisdomquotes.com/topics/love/index2.html)
ANNEX II
SCHEDULE I
“IT WORDS FOR ME!*”
“For today, my word/phrase(s) are: Saint Valentine’s Day; etc.
Saint Valentine’s Day
“Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day,[1][2][3] is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.[1][3] The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. Modern Valentine’s Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.[4]”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia).- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day
Bonus fact #1: St. Valentines Day – Historical facts
“Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.[5] The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).[6] Valentine of Rome[7] was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome,[8] and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.Valentine of Terni[9] became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).[10]The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.[11]No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the 14th century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost.[12]In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on February 14 was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: “Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14.”[13] The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan (Malta) where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Second Vatican Council calendar.”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day
Bonus fact #1-A: St. Valentines Day – Romantic legends
“Saint Valentine of Terni and his disciples.The Early Medieval acta of either Saint Valentine were expounded briefly in Legenda Aurea.[14] According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.Since Legenda Aurea still provided no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail.There is an additional modern embellishment to The Golden Legend, provided by American Greetings to History.com, and widely repeated despite having no historical basis whatsoever. On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he would have written the first “valentine” card himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved,[15] as the jailer’s daughter whom he had befriended and healed,[16] or both. It was a note that read “From your Valentine.”[15]”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day
Bonus fact #2: Saint Valentine’s Day massacre
“The Saint Valentine’s Day massacre is the name given to the murder of seven people as part of a prohibition era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago, in 1929: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the Egan’s Rats gang were also suspected to have played a large role in the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, assisting Capone. Capone might have ordered it after Bugs’ gang machine-gunned Al Capone’s headquarters.”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine’s_Day_massacre
STUDY/STATISTICS:
Candy is Dandy
“1,233 – Number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2007. These establishments employed 38,794 people. California led the nation in the number of such establishments with 143, followed by Pennsylvania with 115.
Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl>
23.8 pounds – Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2008.”
Source: Current Industrial Reports <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/ma311d/>
Flowers
“- $403 million – The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2008 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for about three-quarters of this amount ($314 million).
– 24 million – The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2008 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.”
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1072>
Jewelry
“27,484 –
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2007. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2009, these stores sold $2.2 billion in merchandise.”
Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl> and Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services
<http://www.census.gov/retail>
Be mine
“2.16 million
The number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2008. That breaks down to a little less than 6,000 a day.”
(Source: National Center for Health Statistics) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm>
Giving Love a Second Chance
“3 1/2 – The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage.
52%, 44% – Among adults 25 and older who have ever divorced, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who were currently married.”
(Source for the data in this section, unless otherwise noted: Marriage and Divorce: 2004)
<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/marital_status_living_arrangements/cb07-131.html>
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau) – http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb10-ff02.html
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #1: Valentine’s Day 2010 – Feb. 14
“Opinions abound as to who was the original Valentine, with the most popular theory that he was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome in spite of Emperor Claudius II, who felt that marriage weakened his soldiers. In any event, in A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius I declared Feb. 14 as Valentine Day. Through the centuries, the Christian holiday became a time to exchangelove messages, and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Esther Howland, a native of Massachusetts, is given credit for selling the first mass-produced valentine cards in the 1840s. The spirit of love continues today as valentines are sent with sentimental verses, from and to young and old romantics.”
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau) – http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb10-ff02.html
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #2: Trends
(NC)”Looking to make an impact this year with your loved one on Valentine’s Day? The latest consumer trend is to avoid the traditional and stale options of chocolates and flowers for women and shirts and ties for men and choose [UTF-8?]“smart†gifts that you know your better half will enjoy. A new gift concept called Smartbox takes the guessing out of gift giving and offers you a chance to give fun, thoughtful gifts that will leave your loved ones impressed on any occasion.When you offer a gift to someone you love, you want to make sure they’ll actually enjoy it, because we all know the feeling of receiving a gift that just wasn’t ‘us’. Smartbox is the perfect solution to ensure your loved one will light up every time, said David Meyers, CEO of Smartbox.A new and simple gift concept, Smartbox enables that special someone to choose their own gift experience so gift givers are certain to delight every time. Choose from the 9 different themes, such as restaurants, spas, gateways, adventures or exploration, each with hundreds of options, Smartbox is the perfect personalised gift and allows people to discover new and exciting experiences they would never have found on their own. The concept is simple: choose a theme, buy the related Smartbox, and give it as a gift (or use it yourself!). A glossy illustrated guidebook is included in the package to let the recipient choose from up to 900 different experiences, activities and escapes. They then reserve a date and time to redeem their gift experience directly with the supplier using the contact information included in the guidebook. Gift recipients need only bring their Smartbox gift certificate with them on the day of their reservation to redeem it. The value of the gift is never revealed to the recipient so they will have no idea how much you paid. All packages are all inclusive except for travel expenses.The man in your life likes adventure? Now, you can offer him an original and fulfilling experience by letting him choose between surfing, kayaking, paintball, sailing, paramotor tandem and many other options. Your wife who has everything enjoys great food? You can now offer her a gourmet dining experience in a restaurant that suits her tastes. Smartbox themes include restaurants, spas, gateways, adventures and exploration. Smartbox is available at more than 450 retail locations including Zellers, Jean Coutu and Home Outfitters (Déco Découverte) in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia and online at www.smartbox.com/ca. ”
News Canada
*TM/© 2011, 2012 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.