 | Saccharine, superficial, overpriced, commercial, disposable...fifty shades of grey. Valentine's Day is here. When celebrated in the traditional sense, I look forward to it as much as seeing myself in some scanty lingerie. Thoughts of crowded restaurants, marked-up chocolates and roses, and maudlin Hallmark cards get my heart racing in all the wrong ways. |
Yes, I know. I'm sounding like quite the romantic right now. Men and women are competing for my attention. But, really, I do actually have a bit of affection for the day, as for me, it is more a celebration of friendship. I look back nostalgically at my childhood when February 14 meant exchanging cards adorned with our favorite cartoons, dressing in reds and pink, and eating little candy hearts with quirky sayings. The first Valentine's Day I can remember (and have documented) took place in 1990, when I was four-years-old, at my preschool, Adventures in Early Learning. Somehow, after 26 years, I held onto all the ephemera from that day; the cards contained in my paper heart are a 1980s treasure trove. Here are some of my favorites:
Some of my favorite cards from my Valentine's Day 1990
Alvin, Jem (the truly outrageous, triple platinum 80s rocker), the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Garfield, and my favorite, Mario, are all represented (it's a bit hard to believe, but Super Mario Bros. 3 had only been released in North America two days before). Sadly, I do not have a card from my favorite cartoon at this age, which was Inspector Gadget.
The backs of the cards are also fairly entertaining:
The backs of the cards are also fairly entertaining:
Danny, glad to see you attempted this on your own. Chantelle...I know your mom helped you. Miss Elaine, thank you for making this day possible (and acknowledging that this is mushy nonsense).
I also can get a little sentimental. Grandma Connie. I remember her well. I remember how excited we would get when she would visit us. At times, I wonder if she is still living. If so, what is she doing twenty-six years later? In fact, what are any of my teachers and classmates doing with their lives?
I was fortunate that my preschool had the foresight to document my time in the school, including the day we made our construction paper heart to contain our cards. (You can even see in the photo that the creases on my heart were created the day we made them and not from being stored in my drawer for nearly thirty years). The photographs, the rectangular cards with colorful illustrations, the memories of friends I no longer see...I've cherished these for 26 years. The stuffed teddies, red roses, dinners, eCards, and chocolates we accumulate through the years are transient for most of us. But these ephemera have been far from ephemeral (do I sound like a Hallmark card yet?)
So in the spirit of Valentine's Day, to all my friends. Hindu, Baptist, Catholic or atheist; science, communications, or sociology major; gay, straight, or bisexual;blood relative (lucky) or not; thank you for being my friend. I love you all and hope to have many memories that last me a lifetime.
 My preschool was housed in the basement of this beautiful church in Fall River, MA. |  |
Valentine's Day 2015 was spent with four of my close friends. I couldn't have asked for a better day.
A commercial that epitomizes just about everything I hate about this day:
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