Susan Lower

Yesterday was Valentine’s day.

As I went from store to store, running errands before the next big snow storm hits us in north central Pennsylvania, I was amazed by the lines of people I saw, and the general participation on this particular day.

Williamsport, was budding with romance.

My first stop yesterday was the craft store, where I found lines of people taking advantage of Valentine’s Day coupons and sales. I too, had the same thing in mind. As the recent snow falls have left me to amuse three small children for several days at a time, I needed back up. Crafts are always a good way to keep kids occupied, happy, and using their imaginations in a great way.

My second stop was the pet store. Years ago, before we were married, my husband bought me a fish tank. After all this time we’ve kept it, but recently a few of our fish had become deceased. My four year old son picked out three fish, which I’m sad to say only one made it to the tank. It was very dishearting that one fish died before we got home and another passed away during the night.  At least we have three goldfish for the time being. The one my son named “Henry” still lives.

Then my third stop was the grocery store. It’s amazing how many people need to stock up on bread, milk, and eggs before the calling of another snow fall. Except it wasn’t bread most people where after. It was the $1.99 bunches of flowers.  As I grabbed my groceries, I too couldn’t resist the pink rose buds, and even my son reminded me “We have to get flowers, Mom” we couldn’t leave the store without them.

As we selected our delicate pink rose buds a woman beside us stood selecting out a variety of colors and left the store behind us carrying a dozen bunches of flowers. I heard her tell another woman that she planned on selling them downtown for $2 a piece. Smart business woman.

My last stop was the promised dollar store, where everything is a one dollar. It’s the promise land of all great things gained for a buck where my kids are concerned. My son, especially was excited.  As we stood in line to pay, a gentleman before us was paying for his teddy bear, chocolates, and a single bud silk rose. As he proceeded to pay, he explained how he planned to put the chocolates and rose in the hands of the teddy bear and surprise his girlfriend. How romantic right?  My son and I walked out with a turtle that goes in the bathtub. 

On the way home I drove downtown. We passed the cinema, whose line was out the door and around the corner with movie goers. Down the same street a little further is the community theater, where today the symphony orchestra was playing. Several men stood outside the doors holding bunches of three roses wrapped in green paper. I assume they were waiting for their dates, as several more couples walked down the sidewalk, hand and hand, toward the theater. As I turned up another street, drawing closer to home, I witness a man packing suitcases into a SUV. 

I couldn’t help thinking that obviously he need to go visit the woman from the grocery store with the roses. That or the dollar store for a box of chocolates, then maybe he’d be inside the comforts of home snuggled up with his wife or girlfriend rather than packing his bags on a day like this. 

Later in the evening when the groceries were put away, supper cleared from the table, and children bathed and put to bed, I began my own special ritual of Valentine’s Day. I grabbed a bottle of sparkling cranberry. Dipped some strawberries in chocolate, and cuddled up beside my hubby as we watched a movie on my laptop computer in bed.

One bite of the chocolate though, spoiled the moment. Saying it was bitter sweet would be an understatment, it was simply bitter. Not being much of a baker or even a cook, I never thought to add sugar to the baker’s chocolate. My sweet husband that he is, didn’t say a word. He took the strawberries back to the kitchen and scrapped off the chocolate.

Ironic that the movie we watched, “Julie & Julia” was all about food, cooking, and changing the lives of women in their romantic relationships with their husbands. I’d recommend it to anyone. definitely five stars.

And thus my friends, sums up Valentine’s day in the Lower Household. 

May today be just as special as yesterday.