this day for valentines

Divine chocolate hearts. Pink red roses wrapped in delicate paper. Poems in charming cards. Sweet lollipops. Baskets filled with daisies and ribbons. A bottle of red wine and a plush teddy bear.

How wonderful Valentine's day is!

Everyone takes a closer and special look at the love of their lives, and uses this day to put aside some time for good extra hugging and caring.

I love a happy valentine. I am not one of those who smirk at its celebration. This year, my balloons and heart-shaped pizza came by delivery. But as I take a particular pause, I realize that I take love for granted.

For what is Valentine's day to her whose husband already died? He was the sweet kind you know, but the sweet kind who does it in a gruffy unsuspected way that it would make the whole effort from him twice as special. Will she sit down a few minutes during the day and reminisce how their love started?

Does Valentine day smile at him whose wife is sick? He would use to take her for a spin in a simple dance, but today she can't keep her balance anymore. Oh if she were better, she would have cooked up some magic dish in the kitchen and have it served for dinner. How can he invite her to sing a few songs?

Is Valentine's day kind to those who have not found their love? They laugh and joke that they would go in a park somewhere and get themselves shot. But alone inside their bedrooms, will they long and sigh for a beloved one who went away without ever knowing they were loved?

How is the Valentine season to lovers who cannot be together? One of them might be in another country to make a living. Or one of them may just be in the opposite side of the table, looking across the other, but whose heart is dead here and is longing for someone else somewhere. Does Valentine give you the liberty to be where you want to be?

Valentine's day turns the whole world red. And I know that for some, it may be the color of pain. And I know that I must value each Valentine celebration that I have, whether it be practically simple or romantically sweet. For I am also aware that the flowers will wither and the chocolate box will become empty.

I cannot fathom the heart and what it can carry. But in its varied surprising ways, the heart loves. And it wakes up each morning and faces each day for the opportunities it is given in order to grow and rejoice until the next February 14.

so close

A song by Jon McLaughlin from the Enchanted Soundtrack. An entry made because of this February fever that's beginning to hit me. And I just oh so love this song!

You’re in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two
So close together
And when I’m with you
So close to feeling alive

A life goes by
Romantic dreams will stop
So I bid mine goodbye and never knew
So close was waiting, waiting here with you
And now forever I know
All that I wanted to hold you
So close

So close to reaching that famous happy end
Almost believing this was not pretend
And now you’re beside me and look how far we’ve come
So far we are so close

How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?

We’re so close
To reaching that famous happy end
And almost believing this was not pretend
Let’s go on dreaming for we know we are
So close, so close
And still so far.

the lines she speaketh

As we would have it, women use these lines:

1. "FINE". This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right, and you need to shut up.

2. "FIVE MINUTES". If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour or more.

3. "NOTHING". This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in Fine.

4. "GO AHEAD". This is a dare, not a permission. Don't do it!

5. "THAT'S OKAY". This means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistakes.

I just got this list from Jay. Before I give a loud sigh, I will admit they are all true. I am guilty from the first to the fifth in varying degrees. Depends on the situation though. And I do not know why we do it, but it's like this...

Oh "NEVER MIND".

sleeping on my stomach

What your sleeping position says:

You have a passion for everything -
including sleeping.
Outgoing and brash,
you tend to still shock those who know you well.
You tend to be selfish.
You are the most likely type to take over the whole bed.
You gravitate toward comfort
and don't like extreme situations.

If you don't get enough sleep, you are:
In a very bad mood

It's hard to sleep next to you because:
You hog the covers

the one-question quiz here

the bucket list

Two terminally ill men try to fulfill a wish list known as "The Bucket List", a series of things to see and do before they die. That's how the movie goes. And no matter how schmaltzy and schlocky it may be, I think it would be good to draw up one.

1. Sleep in a hammock in the open air one warm night
2. Watch Nika and Gela dance in their weddings with Mike
3. Fish on a weekend and catch a good size worthy to brag about
4. Stage an intimate solo piano concert for Michael Lopez
5. Walk leisurely around Bohol with Mama Precy
6. Organize an event for women
7. Print a book with my thoughts in it
8. See a fireflies performance in a mountain resort somewhere
9. Drive my red car at a speed of 100 kmh

It's not a tall order, and I hope I'll get to do some of these things before I kick the bucket.