Just a Thought: Valentine’s
Day is near
by Steve Walker
Three weeks from now, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. Also known as St. Valentine’s
Day of the Feast of Saint Valentine, it is associated with romantic love.
A popular myth of Saint
Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing
weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry.
Ironically as a former
Judge I married numerous military members and their soon to be spouses on
Valentine’s Day. One particular wedding I performed a few of years ago, I
actually wrote about in this column in the past.
The young man in question
was in the Air force and his parents were not thrilled that he was marrying his
high school sweetheart. At the Courthouse they whisked him away for
over 40 minutes to try to convince him not to marry her since they didn’t
approve.
The good news is that the
ceremony proceeded and I eventually pronounced them husband and wife. As the
parents glared with their arms crossed during the nuptials, I conveniently
didn’t add the optional phrase, “Is there anyone here who can show just cause
why these two people shouldn’t be married? It was a short marriage
ceremony!
Another Valentine’s Day
wedding I performed was actually at a flea market on Fredericksburg Road.
The couple met at the flea market where they both worked a booth located next
to each other.
Every weekend they would
sell their products at the market and when they didn’t have customers, they
spent time visiting with each other manning their booths. One thing led to
another and they became engaged and I was the lucky Judge who officiated the
wedding.
I performed the wedding
at the flea market in the office used by all the concessionaires. Other than
family most of the attendees were also people who rented booths at the market.
In their forties neither one of them had been married before. That was
definitely a unique wedding.
As stated earlier,
Valentine’s Day was first associated with romantic love in 18th-century England.
That is where it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love
for each other by presenting flowers, and sending greeting cards known as
"Valentines."
Those Valentine's Day
symbols are used today to include the heart-shaped, doves, and the figure of
the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way
to mass-produced greeting cards.
Fourteen years ago while
serving as a Balcones Heights City Councilman, I convinced my fellow Council
Members to appropriate some funds to host a Valentine’s Day Party at the Crossroads Mall Convention
Center. We hosted it for a number of our Senior Citizens. We dubbed it the
“Sweetheart Party.”
Over 50 “young” people
attended and danced to the oldies played by a D.J. who specialized in the
classics of the Big Bands and singers of the 40s, and 50s. Growing up in the
50s as a kid, I remembered the music as well.
We also presented a
single carnation to all the ladies when they came in to the venue. It was an
awesome event and the seniors talked about that Valentine’s Day for a long
time. There was some speculation at the time of making it an annual event.
Unfortunately that did not happen.
Valentine’s Day, many
couples, young and old, are expected to exchange vows, since it is the most
popular day in the year to get married. Whether or not you get married, it is
still a good idea to at least send someone you care about, a Valentine’s Day
Card.
And as always, what I write is “Just a
Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the
Peace and Journalist.
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