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Sunday evening, following three days of celebrating my youngest son’s eighteenth birthday, we were sleepy and tired and remembered that tomorrow was Valentines Day. We quickly gave each other permission to let go of our usual traditions.
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…and my husband gave me the beautiful Valentine of a tender kiss just before he left for an early band rehearsal and I lingered in bed another hour…
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….and I gave my newly-eighteen-year-old the Valentine of respectful restraint and, therefore, none of the usual lists and reminders before I left for a day in town…
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…and I gave myself the Valentine of an errand-free afternoon with a long walk, a picnic lunch on a sunny bench and leisurely hours in the library…
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…and the day gave me a Valentine of gentle afternoon breezes and sunshine and lavender and pink clouds at sunset….
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Now it is close to midnight and I await the return of my deario. He says he has two dark beers he is bringing home with him, to be enjoyed with some leftover birthday cake, and the company of our son as we all watch Jon Stewart together.
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It was a very good Valentines Day.
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P.S. And I hope that yours was, too. As I was driving home today,
surrounded by those pastel skies, I thought about what I would write here tonight…and then I thought about the loveliness of comments and what pleasure they bring to me…and then I remembered the anticipation and pleasure of Valentines Days of long ago, in those sweet early years of grade school, when we would fashion those shoe-boxes decorated with construction paper and with the slit cut into the top to receive the valentines…do you remember those? There it would sit, at the edge of the desk, while the whole class wandered the room pushing the little paper envelopes satisfyingly into the slots and you would hope that when you returned to your shoebox it would be gratifyingly filled with those simple, silly Valentines (sorry for the dreadful mix of tenses and such….deario and porter and cake are quickly approaching!).
surrounded by those pastel skies, I thought about what I would write here tonight…and then I thought about the loveliness of comments and what pleasure they bring to me…and then I remembered the anticipation and pleasure of Valentines Days of long ago, in those sweet early years of grade school, when we would fashion those shoe-boxes decorated with construction paper and with the slit cut into the top to receive the valentines…do you remember those? There it would sit, at the edge of the desk, while the whole class wandered the room pushing the little paper envelopes satisfyingly into the slots and you would hope that when you returned to your shoebox it would be gratifyingly filled with those simple, silly Valentines (sorry for the dreadful mix of tenses and such….deario and porter and cake are quickly approaching!).
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Anyway…that is what it feels like to me every time I make
a post and wait for comments. And I like to think that when we visit each blogs and leave a little something in the comment box, it is like those days of meandering around the classroom with our papery missives in hand…..xo
a post and wait for comments. And I like to think that when we visit each blogs and leave a little something in the comment box, it is like those days of meandering around the classroom with our papery missives in hand…..xo
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sarah February 15, 2011 at 4:44 am
Here is a note for you, my dear, as I feel just like you do about comments …
I’m so glad you had a lovely day. It sounds beautiful indeed.
Happy birthday day to your son. 18! Oh my goodness Leslie, how bittersweet that must be for you.
♥
katiebird February 15, 2011 at 5:28 am
Oh, isn’t that true!! And I was able to let my little 5 year olds do that today. It was so wonderful to see them get so excited about the tiny thin white envelopes with red heart stickers, and to be VERY excited about the home-made doily and glitter ones, and so so thankful for two hershey kisses made into a rose – wow!! What a lovely day of pretty little surprises…plus I taught them how to cut out a heart on the fold…I call that a successful Valentine’s!
sounds like yours was as well…porter sounds sooo good about now! Wished I was having cake, too 🙂
Garden of Rambles February 15, 2011 at 5:32 am
I never thought of visiting blogs in that way, but it’s true. I wait each day to see what each of you is going to post, and being a person who works at home and is kind of a loner, I feel comforted by the words of so many talented an kind people. Thank you.
Lynn February 15, 2011 at 5:44 am
I DO remember those days!
Thank you for sharing your Valentine’s Day with us (and that birthday cake! Oh my!). My own deario and I just finished our own V-day celebration, drinking wine, eating shortbread and watching comedy videos on YouTube until our tummies hurt from laughing. Now, off to bed…
Dori February 15, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day, Lesley dear! What a lovely Valentine’s Day you had with gentle weather, picnic, and quiet time. I enjoyed cozy quiet time inside while the winds whipped our cedars and the rain pelted the windows. Lovely in its own way. 🙂
Happy, happy 18th year to your boy…and you!
the wild magnolia February 15, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I liked your way of looking at the gifts of Valentine’s Day.
We communicate through our comments, both given and received. I treasure both.
Blessings.
Laurie February 16, 2011 at 3:11 am
I love the imagery of your P.S., of our comments to each other. Such a sweet & wonderful way to look at it. I’m going to hold onto that thought. Your day sounded just lovely.
melissa February 17, 2011 at 7:51 pm
This is utter sweetness. 🙂 And your cake is just beautiful. You have such a knack for putting things together…the soft colors and all. Definitely a gift. Thank you for sharing it!
Heather February 17, 2011 at 10:59 pm
And here is another little note for you to find dear Lesley! I so love peeking in on your world – it is so different from mine but so delightful!
Doreen February 19, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Dropping by to say hello and leave a lovely note of my own;
Thank you for the walk down memory lane..those dear days of childhood are so fond!
Wishing you a wonderful day,
Doreen
Sea Angels February 21, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Such a beautiful heartwarming post xx
Thank you too for your lovely, really lovely words on my post. They gave me a real lift this cold evening thank you for taking the time and trouble to comment you were most welcome xx
Lynn xxx
Bonnie February 22, 2011 at 2:38 am
I love your world you bring us into
on birthdays and especially Valentine’s. Yes, a conversation in the comment box blesses. It is an interesting way of writing too. Not a letter because you usually don’t put photos in so easily! I love the editing process of blogging.
Virginia Mallon-Ackermann February 23, 2011 at 2:39 am
What a beautiful post and lovely sentiments. I have been preoccupied with other things (like shoveling snow, work, hibernating) and have foolishly neglected visiting my favorite blogs. I thought tonight I really need to check in and see how you are doing, with your mom and artwork. The visits are never disappointing. I just love the photos, just enchanting. I will be thinking of the almond slices resting in icing as I settle into my low-carb snack tonight. They look so tempting. Thank you for sharing your valentines day with us!
sandra February 27, 2011 at 5:02 am
What a fun memory. Glad you are doing well, I am so enjoying my sweet calendar.