I spied an advertisement for a pretty locket in the pages of the New York Times last Sunday and thought: Valentine's Day is coming up and so is my birthday, I think I'll buy myself something. The ad showed a closed and then open locket. One side carried a picture of a dog and on the other, a little saying. My sweet little Yorkie is now over 14 years old and compromised with so many illnesses, and I know that not too far in the future I'm going to lose him. I thought: my children are grown and so now are my grandchildren whose pictures I used to wear around my neck. My husband is gone but I have his pictures around my home so why not wear my little Pooh.
So I went to the website of the jewelry company. I clicked on ‘lockets' and gasped. Up came an assortment of beautiful lockets...ranging in price from $2600 to over $11,000. Egad! I clicked around and found the locket I'd seen in the newspaper which was nowhere near those prices and which actually was much more appealing to me. Whether I decide to buy it for myself is still a question. Do I love me? Of course I do. But just as I would be upset if my children bought me an expensive gift when they could not afford it, so I am at a point in my life when I truly need nothing and in fact am trying to cut back on expenses.
Here's the point I want to make. On Monday, February, 14th, men and women will be saying, "I love You" in a variety of ways, but commercialism has skewed the meaning and the value of the day, witnessed by the pricey newspaper lockets. It's a day we set aside to honor the people we love, not just our significant others but everyone we love. And it can be in such simple, meaningful ways: I'd settle for having just one more day with my husband, hearing his voice tell me how much he loved me and being able to tell him what he still means to me. No presents needed. I think we honor our loved ones best by giving them of ourselves; making them a dinner, writing a letter or a poem, giving a bouquet of their favorite flowers. A friend of mine painted me a picture. If we love to bake, an assortment of cookies would be appreciated. I'm sure you can think of so many more ways to show and tell the people you care about how much they mean to you.
And please, please, remember those you know who have lost their loved one. Go out of your way to let them know they are still important and cared about. Give from your heart and not your pocket. I can tell you personally how much that means.
One more thing. Please check out my former blog post: Valentine's Day: Friend or Foe. It's especially for those of you who are alone. I wouldn't change a thing I said.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Love, Love, Love!
