Sunday Morning Reflections: Valentine's Day Revisted

2/14/2016

Click to read an old article from GeekNation.com about vintage Valentine's Day cards.

It's Sunday morning, but not just any Sunday - it's Valentine's Day. Yes, I bought Sheila roses earlier in the week, and I'm cooking dinner tonight, but being an old fart clearly has some advantages. I'm not sure this is a Sunday Morning Reflections or a Throwback Thursday theme, but I can't help but think about Valentine's Day when I was a kid in elementary school.

It was a time so much less complex than today.

Valentine's Day was about universal friendship. My mother would let me pick out a box of fifty cards at the drugstore. Total cost was $2.00 or less. I'd have to sign the back of each one and then write the name of the person it was going to on the envelope. I had to have enough cards for everyone in my class, so that was 30-40 cards.

On Valentine's Day everybody would have a brown or white paper bag with their name on it and at the announced time, we'd all distribute our cards. It didn't matter if the recipient was male or female; this message was about friendship. There were no issues with religion, gender or age. For that matter, even if you didn't like somebody they were off the hook on Valentine's Day and still got a card.

Thinking back to those days got me thinking about so many other things that have long since changed and here's where I cross the line into forbidden blogging territory.

What happened to the Pledge of Allegiance not being recited in unison every morning? We live in America regardless of where everybody's roots might be.
What happened to prayer in the schools? I don't care if you're Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or whatever, the fact that we read stories about kids being sent home from school because somebody said, "God bless you" when they heard a sneeze is way off the mark.
What happened to the paddle in the principal's office? Seriously, if you misbehaved and deserved a swat on the ass you got it, and you didn't argue the point. You knew you deserved it and were embarrassed. It wasn't an excuse for your parents to display any self-righteous indignation over their little "angel" stepping out of line!

Okay, that's it for this post - I've already crossed at least three lines of internet taboos, but I wish there were a way to get back to basics.

So, in terms of today, make it a day with value. Go for the standard eleven-second hug. Be selfish today - if nothing else let Valentine's Day be a day of privacy for you and people who are special to you.

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and a Valentine's Day of great memories, even with the little things you can do to make it special.

2 Comments

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Betty Huth link

2/14/2016 09:28:04 am

Amen to 9your comments.. If we could just get away from the "politically Correct" nonsense, thus country would be a better place. AS they say in Australia, I believe, This is our country-America- if you don't like it and the way we do things( the old way), go back to your place origin. It was good for two hundred years, we don't need to change it.

Ron Gross link

2/14/2016 09:59:41 am

Skip, you started and ended by saying that you were crossing some lines. My question to you is "who created these lines? " I am in absolute agreement with you on all of these statements. As a general our society has decided that personal responsibility is not required, and that no one should have the right to hold you responsible for you bad behavior or decisions.

Well I say bullcrap....we have got to stop this downfall of social expectations. Some bright individual came up with this term "Potically Correct" and it is nothing but an excuse for people to negate their personal reaponsibility.

I was taught to be respectful and polite....but honest...if your lazy and uneducated then I am gonna tell you that....and recommend you get off your ass and get an education. Stop complaining that life is tough and you cant fond a job......do something to change it.

We live in the United States....live here learn to read and write english. Yes I am 100% in agreement that other cultures should continue to practice their culture...language, religion etc....but not expect me to change mine. If saying the pledge of alegiance bothers you then maybe this isnt the right country/home for you. If saying prayer is against your religuon then stand quietly while others practice theirs...

Im amazed that so.many people now, are coming to our country..the USA for all that it offers, leaving behind somewhere that they felt a great need to leave. They arrive here and immediately proceed to try to make our country just like the craphole they ran away from.

As you said we need to take back this country, and get back to the basics.

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