Romantic interlude.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

How will you celebrate?

I started thinking back on all the Valentine’s Days in my lifetime and suddenly felt overwhelmed by the compulsion to glue red paper hearts on every available surface and to wrap myself in a tin foil. 

My earliest — and fondest — memories of the February holiday center around Valentine boxes — of course. A discarded shoe box, an empty oatmeal canister or a still aromatic coffee can could easily be transformed into a festive Valentine box — provided enough red construction paper and tin foil were creatively applied. Remember how white paper lace doilies made it extra special.

I recall sticks of Juicy Fruit gum, candy hearts and red hots as the Valentine treats I most often found inside my decorated card box.

Remember those cards that had the two holes that held a flat red sucker? How when you licked off the white “paint,” it left your tongue and lips white?

In 3rd grade, my youngest sister was born the morning after Valentine’s Day. My Valentine box survived a ride on the school bus to my cousins’ house. (I recall this clearly because I didn’t have to share my candy with my younger siblings since they’d been farmed out to other relatives.)

In 4th grade an older boy gave me my first Valentine gift — a tiny gold cross, purchased — I was certain — with loving care from Fankhanel’s Variety Store. I treasured it for years to come.

In high school, the home ec. classes sold Valentine cookies and cupcakes to give to someone special.  I never gave one and I never received one — too shy, I guess.

By college, I was one of those girls who had been raised on stories of Prince Charming. I waited and waited but he never rode by on his white steed.

Instead, I married a real “sweetheart” — born on Valentine’s Day, he was. The upside to this is he never forgets his holiday.

His first delivery of flowers remains the most memorable. It was February after all — and the roses froze. The memory has lasted, you see, even if the flowers didn’t.

Twenty years later, it’s my children’s turn to exchange Valentines. Young love, don’t you know.

There’s jewelry and candy and cute little stuffed things just waiting to be shared.

So what do old married people do for Valentine’s Day?

A special dinner out? We could, I suppose, but we’re both on a diet.

Forget the box of chocolates, then?

Well, could we settle for a smaller box?

Something red? Something lacy? I prefer my flannels this time of year.

Something shiny? No, not the ice on the sidewalk.

How about if we just keep it simple?

Let’s start with a stick of Juicy Fruit and “I Love You.”