February the month of Love

  February is
the month before the entrance to spring and hopefully warmer weather. It is
also the month we celebrate the birthdays of two of the greatest men to ever
lead our country, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. February is mostly
recognized because it is the month we show that one we love special attention
with flowers, candy or a romantic dinner. Valentine's Day, February 14th, the
day that little guy with wings, a bow and arrow wearing diapers, pierces the heart
of the love lorn sparking romance. Every guy in the world knows that there are
certain occasions that must not be forgotten, that birthday present for a
certain special person, Mothers Day, Christmas, and Valentine’s
Day. Flowers and candy seem to be the gift de Jour on this special day and most
of ladies like to receive them at work so the other females in the office can "ooh
and ahh" over the cherished delivery. According to the records from
the Greeting Card Association, they estimate that approximately one billion
valentine cards are sent for this special lover’s holiday. The candy companies
calculate that Americans consume nearly 7 billion pounds of candy annually; it
is believed that a large portion of this poundage is purchased and eaten during
Valentine's Day. In 2004, 110 million roses were sold on Valentine's Day
according to the floral index, a research firm that researches the floral
industry. Valentine's Day is the busiest day and ranks first in the sale of cut
flowers. As you can see Valentine's Day is truly a special day for a lot of
people.

  This February 14th, I will have had the
opportunity to live to see sixty-one Valentine days in my lifetime. Of course
not all of them were spent buying a gift, taking someone to dinner, or ordering
a floral arrangement, but I have had my share of special Valentine's. When I
was in grade school, buying a box of Valentine Day cards to share with
classmates was always fun and exciting. My mother would take me to the 5 and 10
that is a store that sells things rather inexpensively before we had Wal-Mart,
K-Mart, and the Dollar Store. I would buy my box of Valentine cards and a bag
of candy hearts, you know the ones that say things like, "you're my heart
throb or Please Be Mine" so I could put some in the card for that special
girl in my class. Everyone in the class drew a picture or made a cut out to
paste on the front of a bag and we hung them on the wall. On February 14th when
we got to school, we would go to each bag and place our cards inside and then
wait for the end of the day to collect our treasure. The anticipation of
knowing who might give you the candy was grueling as we sat in class and looked
at those bags all day, but the end result was worth the wait if that special
someone gave you that treasured piece of candy on your card.

  I have bought a lot of candy, cards, and
flowers in my day, helping to add to the numbers that was mentioned above. The
last minute shopping on that lovers day is a tradition that most of us guys
hold dear to our heart, but the joy is seeing the smile and getting that hug
and kiss from our special Valentine. There is a tradition I started many years
ago with my children, my daughter first then my son when he was born. I buy a
special butter cookie that is heart shaped and coated with a sugar icing and
each of them get a dozen for their Valentine's Day gift along with a card. I
have done this for thirty plus years and they both look forward and expect them
on this special day. Throughout the years different bakeries I have used have
closed or moved and I panic before I find another one that makes that cherished
delicacy. Those cookies have gone to many places in the years I have been
purchasing them, places like Lexington, KY, San Antonio, TX, Kuwait,
Milledgeville, Ga and I am sure others that I can't remember at the present
time. My daughter starts looking forward to her cookies in January; she
cherishes them so much that she hides them from her family so I would have to
buy extra for everyone else. My grandchildren now get cookies and I buy around
six dozen each year to supply their sweet tooth and attraction to the buttery
delight. I can ask them if they know what happens on Valentine's Day and they
will tell me we get cookies from "G." That is worth the time and money
spent getting the special gift for my special Valentine's.

  All the years I have known my wife, she has
worked at different florist on special occasions. Her talent in floral
arranging is fabulous and she always gets requests throughout the year to make
a bow or do an arrangement for someone. After retirement I was asked if I would
help at the largest and busiest florist in Macon on Valentine's Day. Seeing as
I had nothing better to do I agreed. I do everything from routing orders,
retrieving flowers for the designers to work with, waiting on potential buyers,
delivering flowers, and sweeping floors. I have handled complaints and let me
tell you some of them will really give you a laugh. Working in a florist during
this time of year is stressful, but rewarding, receiving flowers anytime time
of the year is special, but at Valentine's, guys you really make points with
your special one. During deliveries, I have gotten everything from hugs, to
tips, to irate people because the delivery was late or delivered to the wrong
place. I see names on arrangements and mailboxes that make you chuckle or jog
memories of people you knew and haven't seen for years. John Jones, Henry
Schmitt and even Jasper Acuff are names that you may see when working with the
public on a delivery.

  Guys the day is upon us and we must not forget
when the Cupid appears we have to act so we can see that sweet smile from that
special one we love. This year is no different, I will be doing my time at the
florist for Valentine's Day, which means, I have to dust off that GPS unit and
get it ready and working.

 

Life
Happens