Have you ever received an unexpected valentine? In her opinion, the unexpected are the best kind. Those early elementary school memories of the excitement leading up to Valentine’s Day are good. First there was the search for just the right packet of heart cards; not too sentimental – one wants to be honest – not infer more than one really means. Then there was the laborious matching of each sentiment to just the right friend or acquaintance. Much angst was added to the labor if valentine cards came in packs of twenty and there were 30 children in the class. Or what about the packs of 24 matching a class of 24 but two of the cards were for teachers? Two! What a waste to the frugal pocketbook. One year a student taped a piece of candy to the back of every card he gave. That was unexpected. Classmates oohed and aahed and whispered in little clusters that he must be rich. Perhaps his father was a doctor? Some years the children were required to bring a card for every student – or none at all. Other years the students could pick and choose; gift a card only to the classmates they actually loved. Those were the years every last valentine in her box was unexpected. Ah, but she loved the crafting of that shoebox into a Valentine’s Day mailbox, even though she knew it was a time and money strain to her parents to help out. The red construction paper, the white doily hearts; She wanted to win, oh how fervently she wanted to win best in the Valentine’s Day box contest. But she was never the cutest, or the most beautiful or even the most unique or creative.
These days, if a valentine card is received it is totally unexpected. Her mother, who used to bake the cookies and write each child’s name on top in frosting; her parents, who once the children were grown and moved away, still insured there was a proper Valentine’s Day card via snail mail; are infirm and immobile.
Now in her mid-sixties, she sat in front of her memory chest – built by her grandfather from pine (not cedar) -and tumbled headlong through the myriad photo shoeboxes right back into 1969. 1969 was a spring of success. Best junior high marching band ever. First junior high concert band to ever be invited to perform before all the music directors in the state of Colorado. The awards, the 1-pluses, the accolades were rolling in.
On the morning of February 14, 1969, she rose, bathed, dressed and along with 69 other symphonic band members, presented herself for breakfast at the Broadmoor Hotel. It was, indeed, a magical Valentine’s Day. At each place waited a red construction paper heart inscribed with a student’s name and a custom chosen sentiment. For instance, the girl who would play the oboe solo later in the day received a card beseeching, “Be there, Beautiful!”
Her own card was rather cryptic, “Only 60 calories.”
She still has no idea what it means – but it was unexpected – it made her welcome – an integral part of the group – a piece necessary to a shared Valentine’s Day experience. Collectively, they were the best, the most unique, the most musically talented 14 and 15 year-olds in the nation.
Happy Valentine’s Day – and may you receive something wonderful – and totally unexpected!
