blue dinosaur

Walking through wally world the second week in January, I was frankly overwhelmed at the amount of Valentine's Day items already on display. Stuffed animals of every ilk. Jewelry, both cheap and expensive. Heart-shaped candy dishes in clear glass or red plastic. Fake velvet and silk roses in pink, purple, and a red so deep it's almost black. Three aisles (count 'em, three) of cards. All geared toward a day that was over a month away.

I suppose it was to be expected. Christmas over, the only thing the retailers had to look forward to was the next holiday, and since January was sadly lacking (save for Three Kings Day) that meant February was the target.

But instead of buying something for decoration, I simply came home and opened the decorator closet. Took out three lengths of fabric, each with its own unique heart design, and created a display on the dining room table. There's the tiny brown puppy I care-mailed to Jim last year, that he so carefully packed and brought home, and the one to match that sat on the top of my computer for the month. A crazy blue dinosaur with red scales on its back, wearing yellow sunglasses, holding a red and white heart, that Jim gave me the first year we were married. A little curly red poodle, holding in its paws a fake flower, Lord knows where it came from. And, of course, the little heart valentine from my grandson that stays, the rest of the year, on the refrigerator, under the Chinese wedding couple magnet.

I'm not one to ask for flowers, they just die; or candy that after all is said and done is good for only an inch or two on the thighs. I buy my own jewelry, thank you very much. And while I do agree that it's the thought that counts, a card from Jim is mainly good for reading once or twice and then keeping in a drawer or scrapbook until the ink fades.

I do not expect anything from hubby on Valentine's Day. Because, you see, I have the greatest gift of all - a real heart. His.