Celebrating Valentine's Day

          Valentines Day is an interesting time.  For children it often is a time of sharing valentines with friends.  I remember in the "good old days" when we would have a decorated valentine mailbox in our classroom.  We kids would address our cards and deposit them there. Then a chosen student would serve as a postman and distribute them to everyone in the class.  I can recall buying either a box of small cards or else purchasing a book with punch out cards.  But I guess those traditions are now all gone.
          For those who are dating or married the day can be an expensive event.  Often it means expensive gifts of jewelry or candy and a fancy and expensive meal.  Even nice cards are very expensive.  It is easy to spend several hundred dollars very quickly in an attempt to express your love for your friend or spouse. In 2014 the average person spent $133.91 for gifts.  Men spent $168.74 on the average and women $85.76.
          Now I guess we are very frugal, or if you want, cheap.  We have never gone into big displays or expenditures for one day.  Hopefully we express our love to each other in many other meaningful ways daily.  About all that we do is prepare homemade cards for our grandchildren and include some money.  It used to be candy but now they appreciate money much more.
           And, as you get older, there are so many other less expensive things to do to celebrate.  So, in case you are interested, here is my list of ideas.  Incidentally, maybe you aren't ready yet for these ideas, but let me assure you, your day is coming, probably sooner than you think.

Spend the day together shoveling and clearing the snow and ice off your drive and sidewalks.  Then spend the evening together with tylenol and his and her heating pads.

Accompany your spouse to his/her doctor appointment.  Don't trip over each other's canes.

Spend the day together reading all those medicare/health insurance offers that you've received in the mail.

Take out your hearing aids and enjoy the quiet together.

Listen to your eight-track tapes or your 45 rpm records.

Enjoy "happy hour" together by taking a nap.

Call your friends at 9 pm and ask them if they are still awake.

Share a special tasty treat such as a valentine made out of prunes.

Talk about all the senior discounts you could get - movies, meals, hotels, flights - if you weren't too tired to use them.

Give your wife something very special, covered with diamonds - like a deck of cards.

Snuggle and nibble on your wife's ear.  But remember to get your dentures first.

Go and together get your free ear tests at one of those hearing aid stores.  Some even give out gift cards or other gifts just for doing this.

Go out for a special meal.  Try something that doesn't cost much or require reservations, such as Burger King or MacDonalds.   Snuggle up in a booth and share a diet coke and fries.  Add a 99 cent sandwich and share it if you are so inclined.

Get down on your knees and tell your wife that you love her and would marry her again.  On second thought, you better not do that.  You might not be able to get up again afterwards.

Well, no matter how you celebrate, have a happy Valentine's Day and share your love.