THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER

Valentine boxes outside the classroom doors.

Adorned with red tissue paper and red and pink hearts.

That's what  I remember.

The colorful boxes were filled with dime-store valentines. 

With names scribbled in a childish script on the back of each card.

That's what I remember.

Counting the number of greetings I received. 

Those disgusting candy hearts with silly sayings.  

That's what I remember.

 

A heart-shaped box of chocolates from my dad. 

A card signed, "All my love, Daddy."

A surprise after my Tuesday Girl Scout meeting.

That's what I remember

.

In grad school, I gave out heart-shaped cookies I made.

They were a hit.

That's what I remember.

Cards from and dinners with my mom.

In 2001, Valentine's Day was two days before I had major surgery, 

Mom and I went out to dinner. 

That's what I remember.

Mom gave me an artificial rose(it looked so real.) in a silver vase. 

I  had my last meal of solid food

The next day it would be all liquids for me.

That's what I remember.

Flowers from my brothers

Candy too.

That's what a remember.

My secret admirer was no secret at all.

I knew who they were.

The things my friends did.

They made Valentine's Day in the facility fun.

That's what I remember.

The cookie /cupcake fairy.

Who visits since I moved here.

That's what I remember.

I have no stories of romantic candlelit dinners.

No blue boxes from Tiffany's

Valentine's Day memories of family and friends. 

That's what I will always remember.

FYI. I debated whether or not to write this post.

Fearing its simplicity would seem juvenile to some readers.

The first rule is to write what you know. I did.