February 14, 2013
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The Daily News
1 Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
2 I had already written a darned good DN this morning when Windows decided to upgrade my stuff.
3 I had well over fifty items, all philosophical and with a whole bunch of stupid thrown in when the entire thing caved in on itself.
4 I talked all about Valentine’s Day, and all its stuff.
5 It was all a bunch of blather, so no great loss.
6 I had completely finished it, and was ready to put it and me to bed, when Windows decided to upgrade and re-start my laptop.
7
8 My laptop has been shaky lately.
9 It’s my belief that it is on its way out.
10 Most of my computer-savvy friends agree.
11 Something about the motherboard.
12 I have to turn the power on by pushing the escape button. That should tell you something.
13 Sometimes it comes on immediately; other times it won’t start for a half hour.
14 So it re-started okay, but it didn’t save my tear-jerking Valentine’s piece.
15
16 Okay, so it wasn’t tear jerking.
17 It just covered the topic.
18 Valentine’s Day, it said, is good for young people who are “in love.”
19 It is awesome at my school, because they go red roses.
20 When I ran activities, the entire leadership area became a sea of red roses and love grams.
21 I launch Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing today. Roses, love, and chocolate will mingle with poetry all day.
22 It’s absolutely romantic. It’s absolutely magical.
23 It’s also a tad ghastly.
24 I always subdue Valentine’s Day though, because I know that it breaks a lot of hearts.
25 I think of the thousands of Charlie Browns out there who don’t get Valentines.
26 I think of people who have just had their hearts broken, and how difficult it must be for them.
27 Heck, I even think of adults who have just had their hearts broken.
28 So it’s a bittersweet day, I guess.
29 Some people absolutely loathe Valentine’s Day.
30 Moving on, Part One: The best thing about Valentine’s Day is that the day AFTER Valentine’s Day you can get Dove chocolates at half price.
31 I once wrote a play called Morning which dealt with broken hearts and the magic of chocolate.
32 The tag line was this: “All you need isn’t love. All you need is chocolate.”
33 Maybe that will sweeten Valentine’s Day for you.
34 I do believe that you should send out love and prayers to everyone you love today. That’s a nice thing.
35 Moving on, Part Two: Interestingly, there’s this old film playing on TCM right now, The Americanization of Emily, starring James Garner and Julie Andrews. I haven’t really followed the plot because I have been wrangling with writing this, but there is this great departure scene where Garner is told by Andrews that she doesn’t love him.
36 He is about to board a plane for the invasion of Normandy, and she breaks his heart.
37 He first calls her a bitch, then turns around.
38 He is eating a Hershey bar, a running theme of the film. Because of the war, a lot of things were cut back, including chocolate.
39 For some reason, Garner’s men have a plethora of chocolate.
40 Keep in mind I have been busying myself with writing this, so I have paid no attention to the movie, nor do I have time to remind myself of the plot. Maybe later.
41 When Garner stops and turns, he looks at Andrews perhaps for the last line and lays this parting shot at her: “I want you to remember that the last time you saw me, I was unregeneratively eating a Hershey bar.” He then takes an angry bite and boards the plane.
42 I looked up from writing this and broke into a wry smile.
43 A Valentine’s coincidence!
44 So love, love LOVE today.
45 And at some point, spoil yourself.
46 Tomorrow all Dove chocolates will be half price.
47 Or whatever your favorite chocolate is.
48 Sneak off to any store and spoil yourself.
49 As for today, nearly anyone will share with you.
50 Have some chocolate.
51 Pamper yourself.
52 Valentine’s is only once a year.
53 Thank God.
54 Have a lovely day. With the help of sweets, you shall endure. Go forth.
55 Peace.
~H~
