Valentine Thoughts

Raoul’s Two Cents: February 14, 2025

Young Love

Last year, as I was driving my two grandsons home from school, I asked them if they ever talked to their girl classmates. They screamed a defiant NO WAY! as if that was the silliest question in the whole wide world. But now that one of them is already a teenager and the other is just a year behind, I’m noticing something. A few times when I picked them up, I noticed the eldest having a conversation with “the enemy.” Another time, after a basketball game, I noticed two young ladies tagging alongside the elder one. Of course when I asked who his friend was, he couldn’t remember. It’s twitterpating season.

I remember growing up in an all-boy school, I (and the rest of my batchmates) did not know how to behave in front of girls. To me girls were these strange creatures that played with dolls and were no fun at basketball because they couldn’t even dribble or throw the ball properly. And they talked funny — they talked about celebrity crushes and pink ponies and dancing and clothes, etc — boring stuff. They were too fragile to physically and emotionally hang around with.

I had sisters and girl cousins but they didn’t count. They stayed on their side of the playground playing “house” while my cousin and I hunted spiders and dared each other to do the weirdest things. We spied on them and made fun of their silliness. We were diehard slobs and proud of it.

Interestingly, we all first fell in love with our female teachers (maybe it was the mothering we liked) but gradually we boys noticed those critters our own age smelled different, were always neatly dressed and were actually mysteriously fun to talk with. They had a perspective about life I had never considered. I didn’t know this but I created a string of broken hearts. (Mutual friends told me this after the fact.) And I was too dumb to know any of the emotional drama behind the scenes. To all the girls I’ve love before: I’m sorry for my dorky cluelessness.

Today, when I look at my wife of almost 40 years, I remember her smile, her sweetness and her radiant beauty — the things that attracted me to her in the beginning. I didn’t know there was a battalion of men who were vying for her attention. And I smile because, out of that whole bunch of admirers, she chose me. I married up. I really did. I am blessed.

Today is Valentine’s Day. Let’s celebrate with that special someone who added the spice to our lives. He/she deserves it. Remind yourself of the moment you got hit by that lightning bolt and how thankful you were to have been chosen over all the other competitors out there — two losers joined to become a winning team!

Here’s a cute song about a guy who never realized the girl he liked liked him back. It’s called “When did you fall?” by Chris Rice.

And don’t tell me there isn’t anyone to share your love today. We all have siblings, children and friends who are fun to hang around with. Celebrate with them! A phone call, a zoom call … any form of communication is all that is required. Who doesn’t want to feel special? It doesn’t have to be romantic. Today is just a reminder that we all belong to this family of creatures created by God. And please share how you celebrated today, deal?

The Bible encourages us to appreciate each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

TGIF and Happy Valentine’s Day people!

“All my wife wanted for Valentine’s Day was a little card — American Express!” — MIlton Berle

“I married for love. But the obvious side benefit of having someone around to find your glasses cannot be ignored.” — Cameron Esposito

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

“On Valentine’s Day last year, my Mom texted me: : ‘Have a great VD.’ Not a great time to abbreviate, Mom!” — Anonymous Millennial

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Colleen of Washington State

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Joanne of Hacienda Heights, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

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