Flashback Friday - Hearts & Flowers

I almost forgot to write my own Flashback Friday post! Thursday was just a little distracting. Here's why:

That is the front of my minivan which is now sitting in some tow truck's yard waiting, I'm sure, to be totaled by our insurance company. I had dropped the kids off at school Thursday morning and was on my way to the church for a meeting when a sixteen-year-old girl late to her school decided to zip across a five-lane road, the road that I was in the fifth (far right) lane. As soon as I saw her, I knew a bad wreck was unavoidable and did my best to brake and turn to the right to avoid hitting her broadside, praying all the while. God was very gracious, and we both walked away from the accident. I am sore and taking Motrin faithfully but it could have been so much worse. The accident was even right by a fire station and a firefighter was standing outside my door in less than 30 seconds.

One of the firefighters or paramedics asked me if I minded telling him how old I am. I said, "Absolutely not! I'm happy to be this age and to see another day tomorrow!" How quickly a day can change in an instant. Hug your family a little tighter today.

What was Valentine's Day like when you were growing up? Did you have parties at school? Did you make or buy the valentines for your classmates? Was it a trend to attach candy to each valentine? Did your family acknowledge the day in any particular way? What about as you got older, in your teens? Was the day eagerly anticipated or dreaded? Did your school sell/allow carnations or other items? Do any Valentine's Days from the past in particular stand out in your memory? What about now - is it a special time or just another day on the calendar? And of course, the all-important question: candy conversation hearts - yes or no?!

Valentine's Day has always been a fun occasion for me. I remember having such fun making my valentine box each year at school; it seems like it was about the size of a kid's shoe box that we wrapped in white paper and then decorated with hearts and doilies. We cut a slit in the lid for the valentines to be put into. Oh, and I just remembered another kind that was really fun--once it was covered really well! The boxes of sanitary napkins (remember Modess? Kotex?) seemed to open from the top but the sides of the opening slanted down and a couple of inches of the front came up with the top. (Does that make any sense?!) So it was like a little mailbox. We would cover and decorate those, too.

We always bought a package of valentines at the store. They usually came with 32 valentines plus one for the teacher. Adding candy or any other treats was rarely done back then. We were so deprived! I was amazed when my kids brought home their valentine collections from school to see the plethora of stuff that kids gave!

First grade, however, was a complete disappointment. I had the chicken pox and didn't even get to go to school! I think I cried. My best friend brought my valentine box to the door and gave it to my mom. My mom's best friend brought me a heart-shaped box of chocolates to cheer me up.

Speaking of candy, regarding the conversation hearts? Blech. I put them in the same category as the Marshmallow Peeps at Easter. I see a kabillion at the store and wonder who is buying them all! And it's funny that they've been modernized now and say "text me," "email me," "friend me," etc.!

In high school, Valentine's Day was always a little bit traumatic. Some group, maybe the Honor Society or Journalism, sold carnations. They weren't just for romance - friends sent them to each other - but it was always a little nerve-wracking. Because of course the cheerleaders and drill team "popular types" always had armloads and the rest of us would have two or three.

I've gotten over it. Really.

Now instead of carnations it's comments on Facebook.

But I'm a big girl now. And have no issues whatsoever.

My mom always made Valentine's Day fun at home. She'd have little treats for us and homemade valentines. One year I remember getting a kite, and she had made a treasure hunt with little poems she had written and glued on hearts for clues. I thought that was a lot of fun.

(And it never occurred to me to ask for or expect another one the next year. I did a treasure hunt for my kids one year for Easter, and all of a sudden they decided it was the annual tradition and I've had to do it every year. How did that happen?!)

With my kids I try to get them something fun - a little candy, a book, or something like that. But more special than February 14, for my man and me, is February 13, for that is when we got engaged in 1988. (Valentine's Day was on a Sunday so we went out on Saturday night instead, and that's when he proposed.)

Now it's your turn! Tell us all your Valentine's Day memories and link up here!