I was in the shopping mall today. In one of the school supplies stores, I was looking over the cardssection. I wondered why there wasan obvious absence of Valentines’ cards. So, I figured, I’ll just probably send my sister a cute, pinkall-occasion one (she loves pink).
Then, I noticed this brochure sticking out of one of theshelves:
In Dutch, the words below the shopping cart mean:
Love is not exclusive!Show your affection:A kiss, a letter, a word…But why a gift on 1 day in the year?Love does not cost money!Do not be fooled by Saint Valentine.Do not fall for the commercializing of your feelings.Love is not for sale!
I guess the pamphlet worked because I came home emptyhanded. I will have someexplaining to do to my sister though.
I remember one time, at the airport in Amsterdam and on myway back to the Philippines , a rather pleasant lad approached me and asked meif I was taking a plane. I smiledand said “Yes”. He then handed mea pamphlet (I am now starting to be wary of pamphlets).
In the paper was the question: “Do you know how much damageyou are about to do to the environment when you fly in a plane?”
(SLAP IN THE FACE!)
In my heart, I know that pretty much all my life, I havebeen an environmentalist and have tried for the most part to persuade others tocare more for our planet. Butplease, I have not even remotely considered taking a boat home from Europe (andback!) Spanish era style. Thatwould be too much.
So, sorry Mother Earth but I will continue taking airplaneshome, however, I will continue doing my part in minimizing my environmentalfootprint.
In the years we have been together, my husband and I havenever celebrated Valentines’ day deliberately. I now figured out why & in a way, the paper is right.
Valentines’ should be every day. That’s so cliché but it’s true. We don’t just send cards, chocolates, presents, stuffedtoys, etc. to partners or friends on Valentines’, birthdays, and Christmas. We ought to make them feel specialevery, single day and we show our love and affection at each waking moment.
Life is fleeting. Our loved ones won’t be with us forever.
In the great tradition of Valentines’, my wish for everyoneis that we don’t ever take the people we love for granted. And that we cherish all the momentsthat we have together.
As one great proverb goes: “Offer good while supply lasts!”.
The Overseas Filipino Wife 