My two-cents worth and then some. An online journal by LP Brown.
General news topics.
Many Baby Boomers can recall when they were in grade school, and the teacher requested that on Valentine’s Day each student bring Valentine’s Day cards to exchange with all of the other boys and girls in class, assuring that everyone in the class received a card. We usually exchanged, brightly colored, flat paper cards, imprinted with simple one line words of endearment, or catchy verses like “Roses are red. Violets are blue. Sugar is sweet and so are you.” In addition, each student made cards for our moms by cutting red construction paper in the shape of a heart, and then gluing white paper to the heart to create a lacy border. We also made valentines which were taped on the door and walls around the classroom.
Fast forward to the years following my high school graduation, when Valentine’s Day brought me gifts of candy, flowers, concert dates, and dinner at nice restaurants — or nothing at all –depending on who I was romantically involved with at the time. Whether people like Valentine’s Day or not, many will honestly admit that it is a day when one can easily get caught up in memories of relationships past and present.
As I have matured, Valentine’s Day has come to mean more than flowers and evenings out. From the wisdom acquired with age, I realize that I received my best Valentine’s Day’s gift ever, some decades ago, on February 12th , when my now grown son came bouncing into the world at 8 pounds and 5 ounces. Although my 20 year old self, was ecstatic about his birth, I thought that the date of his arrival wasn’t as cool as it would have been had he waited two more days to make his grand entrance on the 14th. But my husband and I told ourselves that his arrival on Abe Lincoln’s birthday could signify that he was destined to accomplish great things, and might even grow up to be President of the United States. Well, the closest my son came to the U.S. Presidency was when he proudly stood beneath the Jumbotron on the National Mall during the Inauguration of Barack Obama. So, I didn’t raise a Commander-in-Chief, but my pre-Valentine’s Day baby grew up to be an entrepreneur, an upstanding citizen and a wonderful son, and he will always be my Valentine.
My only other child, my lovely daughter wasn’t a Valentine’s Day baby either, but regardless she too is my forever Valentine. In addition, my parents who raised, nurtured and encouraged me throughout my life are my Valentines; as well as my grandchildren, siblings, special aunts and uncles, cousins, my dearest friends, and especially my Boo. Mine is not just a one day affair on February 14th, I have every day Valentines.
Did you see red today? Americans nationwide wore red this Friday to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. In the United States, National Wear Red Day (NWRD) occurs each year on the first Friday in February. The observance provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in the life-saving movement to draw attention to heart disease. Heart health consciousness is not just a wakeup call for Baby Boomers, nor is it exclusively a man’s disease as some people believe.
Heart disease is the number one health threat to women. The illness develops gradually and starts to rise when women are between the ages of 40 and 60, and it disproportionately affects women of color – African-American and Hispanic women – who have high rates of major risk factors.
I first became aware of NWRD several years ago, at a former workplace, when about mid-week a savvy co-worker/friend began encouraging the women in the office to wear red on the following Friday to draw attention to heart disease. At the time, some of us, myself included, had not even heard of NWRD, probably because the movement then was only a few years old. Always on a mission to support a worthwhile cause, my friend, Lori, provided the wake-up call to our staff, drawing our attention to this very important issue which some of us still endorse.
All this week on The View, Barbara Walters and her co-hosts have been promoting The Barbara Walters Special: A Matter of Life and Death which spotlights the need for heart health awareness. The program airs at 10PM tonight on ABC television.