Riotous story, Joan.

many years ago, as a college student, i recall working delivering flowers in westport, ct and handing an enormous bouquet of roses to ms. thomas from mr. donahue. i believe you were actually housesitting at wayne rogers’ house (funny what memory comes back with, eh?). anyway, the enthusiam and appreciation of your relationship expressed over 20 years later here, was evident then, as you looked so genuinely surprised and appreciative of the gesture he made. it was a beautiful bouquet, but even as you said that, i could see in your eyes, it wasn’t about the bouquet. may we all be so lucky to be in such a relationship as you and mr. donahue have maintained the joy of, in such a simple manner. gifts don’t need to be expensive, my husband and i do little things like show up from a grocery run with a special little treat we know the other would enjoy. sometimes, just a spontaneous jump into the arms or pinch on the butt as we pass each other in the kitchen works, too. just a quick, hey, i know you’re here, and i love you.

Being in love is beautiful all year round. I just think that if you have to wait until Valentine’s day to express it, then maybe it’s not love. My husband and I look for ways to honor each other and give little treats to each other steal passionate kisses when the kids aren’t watching….. It feels so good to know real love daily and not put each other under any weird pressure every Feb.

I agree with the above. Why must their be so much of that day? Commercialism, perhaps? Because we are told to? Back in the day, Valentines Day was simple, now its you have to buy this, you have to buy that all for one day! Pulllleeeeeease….my spouse and I do little things, and big things throughout the year, we don’t wait for one day.

I don’t generally celebrate the day with my husband because he always forgets the day and I have decided I have been hurt too many years (married 25) by his “forgetting” the day (more like neglecting me, isn’t it?) that I refuse to get him a card or anything. ESPECIALLY I refuse to buy one of those sad and sappy cards I see all over. I REFUSE to fake romance with him!

both my sister and grandmother (nanny) celebrated their birthday on valentines day so my childhood was built around “their” day and not much more. i remember my dad bringing roses or chocolate to my mom but it was always put aside as the above took precedence. im actually glad that it was never a day for me to celebrate or look forward to as it was usually just a normal regular run of the mill day. given those facts and the lack of appreciation for chocolate (hate it!), roses (not my fav) or diamonds (prefer costume jewelry) i have been able to move through the day without any fanfare…until this year. i purchased a dvd, card (which i dont like to buy) and other trivial items for my husband. i packed them in a pink bag with bow and placed them on the counter. he had nothing. nada. nil. just a “you shouldnt have”. believe me i wont next year. apparently (remember the above and understand we have been together for 10 years) i wasnt appreciative enough of “a” rose, a dancing stuffed pig (yeah i know) and a mini diamond heart necklace the year before. guess we both learned.

I have great hope for this website - but I hope it is more than clothes, sex, hairdays. Women today have to deal with a lot of tough issues, single mom’s, working, politics, health, economy - please we are so much more than priveledged wealthy meet for lunch or lets go shopping to fill our days people. I was very disappointed in the choices women suggested to be on Mount Rushmore. If we are so frivolous maybe equality is not within our grasp?????

Gifting can be a wondrous and shared experience. When I’m at a loss for the perfect gift for someone (I have delayed gift-giving up to 19 months until I ‘found’ the perfect item), I go back to grad school days, and create a virtual gift, create an essay around the creation, have it printed, scrolled, and tied. It never failed to please, and never cost me more than $9.00. ;-)) That’s perfect, because the myocardium keeps on pumping, and no amount of money can alter that which is on a cellular level — and it’s red (again, no pun intended).

Let’s look at some of the most crucial aspects for healthcare consumers. I’ve been an advocate for about 30 years in my spare time, and now retirement, and there are some shocking needs that must be put in place ASAP, in consideration of the very near future of health, here and around the world. One, breathing disorders, including COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the world now, and the public hasn’t a clue what its early warnings are, nor do many physicians. It’s only going to get worse. People who survived Polio and others with neuromuscular disorders are suffering unnecessarily in the US…because only a handfull of doctors know how diagnose and treat hypoventilation (the symptoms are horrific)—oxygen is not the treatment! Worse, the insurance industry is separating chronic conditions from acute, which limits excellent care for those who are most in need, and highly viable (check out Dr. Reji Mathews writings—she’s at NYU, and of course my own!). There’s the new Project Blue Whale that’s taken on this mission, and there’re trying hard to get the Bill in the House and now Senate passed to grant Medicare-covered Respiratory Therapists over-sight in home care—crucial to support the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Act and Money Follows the Person, keeping people out of institutional care throughout the nation…it’s working, but RRTs must be recognized, quickly.

I don’t believe in Valentines Day, if your truly IN LOVE, shouldn’t those days be celebrated everyday of the year instead of just one. I don’t excpect flowers or candy. If a it’s true love you find every day something special to do with each other to show your LOVE. Not just on Febuary 14th.

I live alone with my dog, but I still celebrate Valentine’s Day and all the others. Wear something that goes with my red shoes. Somewhere around the first of February, I gather up what might be left of the poinsetttas and pine-cones left over from Christmas and get out the hearts and roses, get in the spirit. And then finding fun little things to send the grand-kids keeps me busy until the big day. Even if it’s just me Henry, I hang a red bow around his neck and we sit in the candlelight and admire my handiwork. For me, it’s a day to remember how fun love can be…escape any and all drama and just enjoy yourself…whatever it brings. Nothing heavy, just celebrate my own capacity to love. It’s a cute-little-cupid kinda day.

In January I had an anti-Valentine’s day with my husband. I went out and bought the usual things for Valentine’s day, decorated the apartment and had wine and cheese. I was quite nice. Why anti-Valentine’s, you ask…because I love him everyday and don’t need just one day a year to tell him so.