when i read about a Valentine's Day "old school" blog link-up at Morgan's blog, Once Upon a Time, i thought, "i would LOVE to do that," especially since i'm trying to get back into writing and blogging. so thank you, Morgan, for the chance to write about something i love. :)
1. When you were in elementary school, how did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Was it a big deal or not so much?
(i was just talking to my husband about this the other day.) from Kindergarten through 6th grade, my teachers always made a big deal out of it (parties, food, handing out cards to everyone in class). i did the same when i taught 2nd grade for 3 years, probably because the parents, kids and other teachers expected it (and party days were kind of fun). but i wonder, why do we pressure kids to give Valentines to other kids that they might not like, or who might not like them? at the same time, a teacher never wants one of her students to feel left out. when i was in school, it always made me feel a little awkward.
2. What has been your favorite gift you have received on Valentine’s Day?
i'm 55. it's hard to remember what was a Valentine gift. i love red roses (but i have a cat now, and he loves to play with flowers, so we don't buy them often). my husband has given me awesome cards in our 31 years of marriage. i think i remember we went away to a nice hotel for a weekend when our kids were little.
update: he just brought home a lovely bouquet of roses and mums. i posted it at the beginning
3. Should Valentine’s Day even be celebrated?
i have mixed feelings about that. i think there's a lot of pressure to have a significant other for the day. i think it's hard on couples (especially the boyfriend or husband) to make it a perfect day, and to do something bigger and better every year. and i know it can be hard on people who don't like the day, or who don't have anyone to celebrate with romantically. but i also like the idea of having a special day to show that we love someone, whether it's a husband or boyfriend, a friend, or someone in our family.
4. Do you like to send Valentine’s Day cards?
i give them to my kids, with some money, and i always buy one for my husband.
5. Do you ever receive Valentine’s Day cards?
sometimes my mom sends them to me. my grandmother used to send homemade cards to me until she passed away. my husband always gives me one.
6. Do you think people spend too much on Valentine’s Day?
yes. it goes with the pressure thing i mentioned in question 3. but i've also heard of people buying flowers the day after Valentine's because they're marked down quite a bit, so there are ways to keep it inexpensive.
7. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?
chocolate, of course. and my favorite chocolates are truffles, but i don't think i've ever gotten them on Valentine's Day.
8. What is your favorite movie with a Love story?
that's hard to answer because i have so many favorite romance movies. i think i'll go with one that most people might not know about and that's "Open Range." i love it because Charlie (a gunhand-turned-cowboy) doesn't think he's worthy of anyone's love, and when he meets Sue, he thinks she's too fine for him, but she loves him despite seeing how violent he can be against the bad guys.
9. Do you believe in “love at first sight”?
possibly... it makes a good story in a book or movie.
10. Tell us about your first crush!
his name was Jerry. i sat next to him in first grade. i thought he was adorable, especially when he smiled. and he was always nice to me.
11. Do you have a terrible dating story? Tell it!
actually, my first date with my husband was horrible. we went to a concert and all we did was tease each other. i told a friend that i didn't think he was for me. our second date was much better, once i finally agreed to go out with him again. i'm so glad he was persistent.
12. Favorite love song?
at first i didn't think i had any, but then i came up with six, all from movies.
--"Only You" from The Young Victoria.
-- "Holding All My Love for You" from Open Range
-- "I Want to Spend my Lifetime Loving You" from The Mask of Zorro
-- "Let My Love Open the Door" (i don't know who wrote it, but it's used in Dan in Real Life)
-- "I'd Go the Whole Wide World" (i think it's by the Monkees, and it's used in Stranger Than Fiction)
--"Beauty and the Beast"
13. Favorite Celebrity Couple?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
14. The best break up song…
i really like "Can't Stop Loving You" by Phil Collins.
15. If you had a perfect Valentine’s Day, what would you be doing?
at this point in life, i'm happy spending time with my husband, even if we're just hanging around the house.
for more posts in this blog link, go to Morgan's blog, Once Upon a Time.
