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By Patricia Johnson The first one I received from him was when I was 18. It came in the mail and was just a beautiful simple wish for a Happy Valentine's Day. No flowers, no candy, just this very pretty card from a nice man I didn't know very well. For the next several decades I could count on at least two cards on Valentine's Day, one from my father and one from my special friend, Johnny. The last card I received from Johnny was in 2007 and due to health problems and the subsequent loss of his address, I wasn't able to thank him a fact that I've come to regret over and over again. Sometime in 2009 I located his address and sent a long letter bringing Johnny up to date on all the things he had missed over the past two years. It didn't take long for my letter to be returned with the following comment written across the bottom - "deceased". When you receive something each years for decades and it suddenly stops you can't help but wonder what sort of bad news you'll receive once your letter is delivered and the return mail brought the worst possible news. The man that brought a smile to my face each and every Valentine's Day didn't even know how much happiness he had brought me for all those years. Husbands, lovers and boyfriends are nice (although not all at the same time), but there is something special about a friend who doesn't want or expect anything from you, except the desire is to make you happy if only for one day a year. I don't think men truly realize the power of a greeting card. Most men go out and buy their wives or significant others candy, flowers, lingerie or something else they think their mate wants. My husband never misses Valentine's Day he always comes home dragging this or that, with a great big smile, knowing I won't be able to resist the chocolates for more than a few hours. What he doesn't realize is once the candy and flowers are gone, the only thing that remains are the words on a card. A simple "Be My Valentine" can mean as much to your loved one as all the candy and flowers in the world. The gesture means even more when one legend of Valentine's Day is taken into consideration. History indicates Valentine was a priest serving Emperor Claudius II, in Rome, during the third century. Claudius determined single men made better soldiers than married men and immediately put a halt on all marriages. Married men had wives and children and were not as willing to give their life for the cause. When Valentine found out about the ban on marriage he continued to perform marriage ceremonies secretly and was eventually put to death by Emperor Claudius II. [Source: History.com] Patricia L Johnson is a former special assignment writer/photographer. |
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