The month of February is upon us. Valentine's Day brings back many memories and, for the most part, good memories.
My beloved maternal grandmother in Suwannee County, the late Annie Valentine Johnson Taylor, was born on Valentine's Day. I think of her often, but especially on Valentine's Day. She was, for me, the perfect grandmother; she was patient and kind, a wonderful cook, and had a loving and patient spirit. She loved gardening and grew some of the most beautiful camellias in the world. So many times, she allowed me to clip camellias for various Valentine's Day events. My memories of walking with her as we clipped her prized camellias and then sharing a visit with her afterward are precious. I hope she knew how much I loved her. I told her how much I did. I know there's a Heaven, and I know she's there. No doubt in my mind.
In elementary school, our teacher made elegant valentines boxes, and we dropped our valentines in the boxes to be distributed later in the day.
For many years, I emceed the Queen of Hearts Pageant in Jasper, benefiting the American Heart Association. It was a well-coordinated pageant and raised a lot of money for a good cause. The late Georgeann Sapp was crowned the first Queen of Hearts. We recently lost Georgeann, a beloved friend and educator. The title "Queen of Hearts" was apropos for her, as she loved children, family and friends. She made the world a better place.
When I was a first-year principal in White Springs, Tracy and Woody Woodard, Janiece and Phillip Platt, and several parents sponsored a Valentine's dance for our seventh and eighth graders in the cafeteria, and it was a beautiful event. The parents went all out, the decorations were beautiful and, my Lord, the refreshments -- we had tables groaning with a variety of goodies. It was truly an evening to remember.
When I was principal at Central Elementary School in Jasper, the late Ulma Braswell made her famous homemade cream puffs for us each year on Valentine's Day. Wonderful.
One dear friend, the late Nora Lang and I always shared a visit around Valentine's Day. I would choose beautiful strawberries; we splurged and purchased a couple of bottles of Moet White Star Champagne and a couple of bottles of Frexinet, which were less expensive but great. We would sit on her screened back porch, talk and enjoy eating our strawberries and sipping champagne. I miss Nora so very much.
How many remember those elegantly styled heart-shaped Valentine's boxes of candy sold in the drugstores? The boxes were more beautiful than the candy inside of them was tasty, but we thought they were beautiful and Daddy bought Mama a box of those chocolates and a bottle of Estee Lauder perfume each year.
Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate LOVE.
Let's all avail ourselves to let those we love know that we love them. We don't have to purchase expensive gifts, although local florists would be happy for your business, as Valentine's Day is the busiest day of the year for them. My favorite chocolates are Turtles. I love them, always have, but I won't turn up my nose to a Reese's cup or a Snickers bar.