Young at Heart

For months now, we had been planning to use these heart plates from Tiffany and Co. as the inspiration for our Valentine table.

Maybe next year...  

Because in the middle of our dish playing,

the Duchess brought out this whimsical heart fabric.

We decided to do an about face 

and go in a completely different direction.

A more childlike one.

Who says Valentines’ Day has to be pink and red?

We dubbed this table Young at Heart.  

Remember how exciting
the big day was when we were growing up?

We’d spread all our cards out on the table
and match them up...

classmate by classmate…

checking our list so as not to forget someone…

picking out that special one for that special little boy...

But kind of hoping that he didn't notice...

Because we would be a little embarrassed if he did.

We'd say...

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you...

Or... 

There are tulips in the garden

There are tulips in the park

But the tulips that he likes most of all

Are the two lips in the dark…

(That rhyme came courtesy of the Duchess)

The Practical Daughter got her very first special valentine in kindergarten when a cute little fellow named Tyler decided that he was twitterpated. He waited until the end of the day then ambled up to the car and thrust a little red heart through the window.

“Here,” he said.

And off he ran.

She was very offended by my giggle, and I’m almost positive that she would have rejected it completely had she not had a powerful fondness for chocolate. 

They became an item. 

I was volunteering at recess a few weeks later when Mr. and Mrs. Tattletale came running up to report a playground infraction.  Apparently, they had been accused of that most egregious kindercrime...

Sitting in a tree…

K- I- S- S- I- N- G

First comes love

Then comes marriage

Then comes Mary with a baby carriage

Oh the shame of it all...

But wait!

The accusation grew much, much worse

Those teasers had added a second verse.

That ain’t all…

That ain’t all…

There goes Tyler drinkin' alky hol.

At that, the budding Romeo put down his foot.

He could bear the shame of being called a tree smoocher, but that son of a Baptist deacon was utterly unwilling to be accused of doing so while under the influence.

The romance didn’t survive the scandal.

Ah, youth…

So there you have it: Our childhood inspired Valentine table and a walk down Memory Lane.  By the time we gather on Susan’s Porch again, Valentine’s Day 2011 will be a memory.  Hope you all have a wonderfully romantic weekend of a more adult kind.

As for me?  I think I might just grab the man of the house

and climb the nearest tree.    

*****

Sharing this with Laurie

And on the porch.