Today was Maris’ class St. Valentine’s Day party and the excitement was palpable. Kiddos were practically vibrating with anticipation. They’d decorated their own sacks the day before and each kid’s cubby was stuffed to the gills with cards, candy and other fun stuff. It was also “free dress” day so no one was in uniform. They ate, did crafts, a (temporary) tattoo station was set up, there were balloons, stickers and more. It was early dismissal but the school was brilliant and organized a “stay and play” fundraiser where the kids got to have pizza and a bounce house. I really mean it; one of these days I’m going to throw a party were adults can bounce darn it. I organized this party and Burk was able to get off work to come help and see Maris. When I was a kid, my folks were by far the poorest in the class but I was always so very proud they volunteered to be “room parents” for every elementary school party I ever had. My daddy owned a painting business so he was able to take off and Mama always made the goodies herself from scratch. I remember a kid telling me once they wished they had my parents. I always knew I was the lucky one. I loved being an only child and knew they would both always be there for me. The three of us were so very close my entire life. They taught me about love and marriage and showed me what being a great parent looks like. Poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” I so want to do the same for my little girl. I think she was glad to have us both there and I hope all the kids enjoyed the party. Her teacher joked they were gearing up for the after-party and she was right! They started chanting “bounce house! bounce house! bounce house!” and I had to beg to get two pictures taken before she was off like a flash. I watched my first Valentine looking with love at my second Valentine as she’d taken off with the little boy who had come to get her. The last words of the song “My Funny Valentine” ran through my mind as I watched my husband and my daughter with my heart full of love:
“But don’t change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little Valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine’s day.”
