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Generosity Day, poetry, Rethink Valentine's Day, Single Awareness Day, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day treats

Rethink Valentine’s Day…let me count the ways

Mona Alvarado Frazier

Valentine’s Day is all about hearts, romance, love, right? For single me, it’s less romance but still hugs, kisses, and special wishes. Do not stick me with the “Un-Valentine” set with heart pinatas and speared cupids.  There’s still lots of reasons to celebrate Valentine’s Day or “Single Awareness Day,” as this Cargoh card   illustrates.

V-D or S-A Day is about reveling in love for your own bad self, sharing your affection with those who are special to you and also remembering those who may need a smile or laugh. With that concept in mind here are a few things that I’d like to share with you.

For the book lover CJ Lyons has a wonderful video on her blog post today. It is a little long but book lovers will love this Academy Award nominated short film. The filmakers say that Hurricane Katrina, Wizard of Oz and a love of books inspired them to make the film which is an allegory about the curative powers of story.


The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

For the thoughtful, reclaim the day by celebrating Generosity Day 2012. You can watch and take the pledge here:

For someone who needs a smile or laugh: (If this one doesn’t do it for you can find more here).

One morning Emma woke up with a start.  Her husband Jim asked what was the matter, she told him, “I just had a dream that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s day. What do you think it means?”

“You’ll know tonight,” Jim said.
That evening, Jim home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, Emma opened it – only to find a book entitled “The meaning of dreams”.

For the foodie, make some of these luscious goodies (recipe) for yourself and/or friends:

For the lovers of verse: Read or visit some poetry sites. I like this one over at Book of Kells
Now I have to get  to cooking dinner for my writers group “Red Day” meal. I’m making pasta with Pomodoro sauce. The others are bringing homemade french baguettes with roasted red pepper spread, red wine, salad greens with pomegranates, and hopefully someone brings red velvet cupcakes.  
How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day/Single Awareness/Generosity Day on the 14th? 
Parenting, Teenage road trip, Travel

Teenage Road Trip-Part Dos

Mona Alvarado Frazier
photo by Jim unprofound.com

My two youngest hit the dark road at 3:30 a.m. heading to San Francisco for three days. My son is nineteen, my daughter twenty-two, and they took three friends with them in a small SUV. Remember those days? Some of us did that kind of thing in a VW, the Beetle, not the van. Ah, to be young.
They’re probably cramped up by now.

A few months back, Vegan son planned his first road trip. I’m using ‘planned’ in the loosest sense of the word. He abandoned his SF trip and headed to Santa Barbara instead. This time the kids have a hotel, courtesy of mom, because it’s what Adventure daughter wanted for her birthday.

Vegan son didn’t take luggage, not even a backpack.

     “My toothbrush fits in my pocket and I have on two other t-shirts under this one.”
     “Oh-kay.” (eye-roll and nose scrunch)
     I didn’t ask about underwear. Glad I’m not in the car with him for six hours.

Adventure daughter had her Harajuku camouflaged Duffle bag for her two night stay, a Trader Joe’s grocery bag filled to the brim with eats, a small rolling cooler for beverages, and a map in her hand (in case the GPS on their phones didn’t work). The other three teens had backpacks, bags of snacks, and smiling faces. Their parents didn’t come over to see them off.

photo by Jim unprofound.com

It was with a little melancholy that I said “safe travels, have fun,” as I tried to be as innocuous as possible in my cheetah print flannel PJ’s and robe. I  had to search their faces to see a glimmer of their eager smiles hidden beneath their cool exteriors when I reminded them to be alert.

Did you take your chargers, your insurance cards, jumper cables, Triple A card, water bottles…?
“Maaah-mumm.”
They got into the car without a look back. I know they glance in the rear view mirror and see 19 and 22 year old young adults. But I see 6 and 9 year old children looking back at me.

My mom’s voice blasted through my thoughts: “when you have kids, you’ll know…” Yeah, yeah–but it’s true. I wanted to throw that maxim in my kids detached emotionless faces, but I didn’t. I know they heard me.

At seven fifteen Vegan son texted me that they were at a rest stop. They saw the sun rise over the San Luis Obispo mountains earlier: “Ah-sum,” he said.

At eleven o’clock, Adventurous daughter texted “Here.”
Noon: “They said they need your ID and Credit Card #, front and back, by fax or email or a $100 deposit, I don’t have $100,” Adventure daughter wails.
12:30: We don’t have a fax so three emails and phone calls later (incorrect address) the card info is sent.
12:35: “Ok, thank you so much.”

I can take a nap now, since I’ve been up since three thirty this morning. It’s hard to let go and believe that they don’t need mom.
Well, maybe they do, for a hotel.