This isn't a post about the usual grouses against those who peddle single stalks of limp roses in cellophane for obscene amounts of money, or against those who suggest that dinners that cost a few hundred dollars would put them in their loved ones' good books. It's also not about 'Valentine's Day is every day' and all that stuff --- although we should be able to --- indeed, we should really just -- tell our loved ones what they mean to us every day.

Nope --- it's just going to be about school days --- when I was a teacher in a mission school. I remember how excited the girls would get about this day, and numerous other days when they could affirm friendships. It was hardly necessary to even give them a reason. So those 'special' days would be filled with mini-gifts on every table, geberas and baby's breath, squeals and hugs, and photo-ops. Sometimes, of course, this would degenerate into 'popularity' contests --- but, generally, the girls made sure no one was left out.

This year, I gave my daughters a chance to show their friends that they liked them. So I tied ribbons around the stems of 60 lollipops for Daughter # 1 for her to give to her friends, and passed Daughter # 2 packets of 'hamburger' and neon-coloured 'worm' gummies for her to give to her friends.

Maybe it's just a girl thing .... but I personally enjoy this language of love --- gift-giving.

Labels: gift-giving, Valentine's Day