Friday, February 12, 2016

Hearts and Memories






The other night, Sam and I were discussing what we might want to do for Valentine's Day.  Of course, there could be surprises, but this year I think that might take the form of small presents and cards.  It will definitely not be a trip or anything expensive.  We both have our sights set on a much bigger vacation in September!  Don't think we are even going out to a restaurant.  Just planning an intimate day to ourselves with some special choices for a dinner we will prepare together.


Our talk got me thinking of other Valentine Days.  Sam and I have
been together for a long time now.  We have been valentines since we were 15 years old.  High school sweethearts and lots of memories.  I remember a high school dance and a corsage for my dress.  Dancing close.  One Valentine's Day Sam gave me his class ring to wear on a gold chain around my neck.  We were "going steady," and that was high romance for sure.


Going farther back, I was all about creating a masterpiece valentine mailbox with an old shoe box and reading over and over each and every card I received.  I recall choosing my own valentines was a huge decision.  Favored cowboys or Disney characters.  When I escaped Catholic school and started 4th grade at public school, there was a real Valentine's Day party!  Cookies and cupcakes and punch.  And I loved when my dad would sing me 
                                  "My Funny Valentine."




 Jump forward to "First comes love, then comes marriage.  Then comes Ella with the baby carriage."  I remember helping my boys with their valentines before they could even print.  Baking cookies for parties and being "Room Mom" some years.  I didn't work when
the guys were small, and we were used to being broke for many
years.  There was one Valentine's Day when I really wanted to take the boys for lunch at White Castle.  I actually had $1.72 left until Sam got paid.  The little one and I picked up big brother from kindergarten and went "out on the town."  They each had a burger and split the fries and soda.  I had a cup of coffee.




There was one year when I won us a fancy dinner at a posh
restaurant from writing a risque Valentine poem for a radio contest.  It was a rock station and the morning DJs were bawdy to say the least.  I do not remember the poem much at all except that it had to do with a paternity lawsuit.  They thought it was hilarious.  The dinner was worth more than the fabric for my wedding gown.



Once the kids were both in school all day, Sam and I used to arrange what we called "executive lunches."  If we could both sneak away from work for a whole hour, we would rush home for some crazy fast love-making before tearing off to return to work.  We called it an "executive lunch" because Sam had a suit on , and I loved how he looked with it on and with it off.
  

One Valentine's Day I was sure to beat him home so I could arrange a surprise.  I had cut out 100 red paper hearts and arranged them in a path from the front door to the bedroom.  Carefully drew little red hearts on the insides of my legs and sat up on the bed splayed out in red panties and waiting for my valentine.  Sounds pretty cheesy now, but  being poor can inspire one to be creative.


When I was teaching, Valentine's Day was always called "Friendship Day."  My parties were renowned.  They started at 9:00 am and lasted until 3:30 pm.  We had math lessons with boxes of little candy hearts.  Reading included stories of friendship and silly poems.  Love letters to moms and dads and grandparents.  Besides exchanging valentines, we watched Milo and Otis, my favorite friendship movie.  You may be appalled, but there were tons of snacks and sweets.  I never minded the kids amped up on sugar once in a while. It was fun in small doses.




I think of life now in terms of "Before ttwd" and "After ttwd."  Valentine's Day in the bedroom is a lot more exciting with ttwd than before.  The spanking happens all over the house - only limited by Sam's imagination.  Last Valentine's Day, he got us a leather razor strap.  That one can be fun or not, again depending on Sam's mood.  Our
toy drawer is full of choices, and I really have no idea where we put Sam's sweaters.  Just never looked back.  There is also a dynamite red and black corset along with black stockings in that drawer.  While I no longer care about flowers or jewelry, a thoughtful card is still very nice.  I am a huge Shakespeare fan, and pretty words are always appreciated.





               "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.
                   And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

                          from A Midsummer's Night Dream
                                       Act 1, Scene 1

Although I am not a Shakespeare expert, I do believe those lines written in iambic pentameter could be interpreted as,




                               "It's fun to do it blindfolded, too."

                        Here is wishing each one of my readers 
                          their own happy little "Ever After" 
                                     for this day of love. 


25 comments:

  1. Lovely memories - thanks for sharing your special times.

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    1. Sam even helped a little on this post. I did not remember winning the fancy dinner, but he did.

      Ella

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  2. Ella,
    I did not know that I would be treated to such a lovely personal history lesson as I have my morning coffee. Wishing you and Sam the happiest of Valentine's Days.
    Jack and Meredith

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    1. Thanks, Mere. I just thought of another jump rope rhyme. "Jack and Meredith up a tree,
      K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

      Valentine Wishes to you both as well.
      Ella

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  3. What a sweet lovely post..it is always fun...and heart warming ...to relive some of our life's special moments. Oh..I LOVE your interpretation of Shakespeare...think you are right on!
    hugs abby

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    1. Good girl, Abby! I once wrote a paper on some of Shakespeare's more bawdy passages. He was a rogue.

      Hugs From Ella

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  4. Hi Ella, what a lovely post and I hope that your Valentines Day this year will be the best yet!
    love Jan, xx

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    1. Thank you, Jan. Hope that yours is, too. If I ever get to meet you, I just know you will be as sweet as a rose. Enjoy your day with Hubby!

      Sending XOXO Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  5. What sweet memories. :-) Love making Valentine's - just about to make some for my own sweethearts... Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

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    1. Good for you, Terps. Handmade cards are the best. Enjoy all your sweethearts.

      Hugs,
      Ella

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  6. Thank you for sharing your memories of Valentine's days past. I hope you have a lovely day on Sunday.
    Your baby carriage ditty reminded me of a wedding card H and I received: Harry the captain, Rosie the mate, crew to follow at a later date. I didn't appreciate the sentiment at the time.
    Rosie xx

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    1. Love that you are visiting now, Rosie! I like that little ditty, too. I wonder if anyone jump roped to that one?

      Hugs to Rosie

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  7. What romantics you both are! I so enjoyed reading this. They are just brilliant memories! Valentine's Day for us is usually very low key as we both hate and loathe all the commercialism, but we do have a few interesting memories. Must write a post. You've given me a prompt!

    Hugs
    Ami

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    1. Sam would not call himself a "romantic," but once in a while he surprises me. We do not enjoy a big deal for Valentine's Day either and refuse to go out to dinner just on principle.

      Have already read your post, and it is lovely. I love that speech of Kate's. I actually got to perform a scene in Taming... once. It was great fun.

      Hugs to you, too.
      Ella

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  8. Ella, what a lovely post and such wonderful memories. Wishing you and Sam a happy Valentine's Day.

    Love,
    Ronnie
    xx

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    1. Hello to you, Ronnie. I just finished your wonderful book, and loved it. Sending a Valentine wish to you and P as well.

      Sending XOXO Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  9. Such awesome memories! My Man and I are also high school sweethearts =] long history of love and memories for us all. Happy Valentines Day to you and Sam.
    XOXO Pearl

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    1. Pearl, thank you for the comment. That surely was long ago, wasn't it? Once for our anniversary, Sam made a timeline of all the years we have been together. He put it on butcher paper that stretched for almost 20 feet. That's a lot of memories.

      XOXO From Ella

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  10. Ella what a beautiful post and lovely memories you and Sam share on Valentine Days. Hope you have many more to make wonderful memories. Happy Valentines Day to you both.
    We don't celebrate it but nice to hear how others do.
    Hugs Lindy

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    1. The lyrics for the last line of the My Funny Valentine song say "Each day is valentine's day." When you love somebody, it is really every day, not just February 14th.

      Sending Hugs Downunder,
      Ella

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    2. That's exactly how we feel. We show our love to each other every day. So don't need a special day to proclaim it.

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  11. Lololol I LOVE your Shakespeare lesson. Perfect for today! I also loved your blog and going back in time with you. Lovely memories with your Sam. And I'm so intrigued by that corset!! I've been meaning to get one...

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    1. Well, Howdy Do! Good to hear from you. Today was just a perfect day. We had so much fun. Hope your day was wonderful, too.

      Glad you liked the Shakespeare. The Bard knows!

      Ella

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  12. What lovely memories Ella...thank you so much for sharing them with us. Hope you two had a lovely and loving Valentine's celebration.

    Never try to predict what a man will or won't do...lost cause. ;) Lovely Valentine's gift DF.

    Hugs and blessings...Cat

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    1. Thanks, Cat. It was a wonderful day from start to finish. True love is a blessing.

      Hugs,
      Ella

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