HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Just a short salute to Valentine's Day from an older (and proud-to-be) woman.

 Happy Valentine’s Day to all my friends who woke up this morning and said…”Wow! Another beautiful day! And I woke up on the right side of the grass.”             Or…

“Today I’ll spread my love of life around. I won’t worry, won’t even think about my body’s aches and pains. I’ll be grateful for another day of life that I can make of what I wish. I will sing in the shower, I’ll dance on the porch!”

 Sigh. Even if you've celebrated 80 or more Valentine's Days, don't be bored or discouraged. Each day offers new possibilities.

For decades Valentine’s Day has been the day for celebrating love and romance. We all want love in our lives no matter how old we are -18 or 88. New love at 75 years old feels no different than love at 35 years old. (I know this from experience. It’s giddy and grand.)

I’ve heard many an older widow say…”No romance for me. Not at my age. I’m not going to end up as anyone’s nurse.” 

But maybe that’s a shortsighted attitude. Just maybe, in the craziness of life, one day these same women might find themselves on the reverse, the other side of the caregiver role. They might be lucky enough to have some good, loving man taking care of them, reading to them, fixing dinner for them, driving them to a doctor's appointment. Just saying, it could happen.  

If there is no love interest in your life - throw a Galantine’s Day party, just as special and perhaps even more meaningful. If a party is too much, you can always buy your own chocolate and flowers like the Miley Cyrus song popular now. Another confession coming; I buy my own flowers on occasion. (Hot tip here: When you’re allergic to roses…buy lilies.)

But family love may be the best love of all. Love your family, love your friends, love your life, Valentine’s Day and every day.