Happy Tuesday/Day of Love, Martyrs and Other Historical Nonsense

Oh shoot, I meant, Happy Valentine's Day. Actually, it's Happy Saint Valentine's Day, in honor of that poor bugger who refused to give over his Christianity for paganism, perhaps, with nothing romantic about it, unless you consider having your head kept with other relics and honored over the centuries romantic. But needs must, romance must have its way and here we are, centuries and pathetically horrid millions of poems and Valentine cards later, the saint's day not even recognized by the Catholic church anymore, guilt ridden, offering proposals, weeping silently in our lonely beds, reaching for the champagne and chocolates, going farther in debt, silent shared smiles over champagne, looking up old lovers on facebook...

A Culebra Valentine card

In other words, acknowledging this day when Cupid, known for his naughty little air/heart arrow attacks, is making merry out there with rarely a care for the consequences of his mischief. Have you ever wondered why no one ever asks, Mommy, how DOES he get all over the world, flying on those stubby little wings, with that chubby little naked body? How will he get in our house? Why does he shoot people and not get arrested? Why, Mommy, why?

Historically, the choice of St. Valentines possible for the naming of the day, the reason it became associated with love and lovers, the giving of gifts to show that love, all remain as obscure as the reasons for truly romantic love itself, which might, ultimately, justify such a day more than a lot of other things.

Oh MJ, you might be thinking or even saying out loud (if you are still reading) you sound a tad bitter, on your own, no gifties, no dinner plans, chica? I say, balderdash! I'm just continuing looking at the weirdness of the twisting of history, not only in how it is showing up like a terrifically bad case of mange in politics as the elections draw closer, but at our celebrations and hypocrisy in, oh, just about every national and international holiday there I can think of and wondering...why, Mommy? Of course, my mother would have laughed her uproariously funny laugh and said something along the lines of 'It is OBVIOUS. People like to fool themselves, it makes them feel better. Now let's go have a wonderful lunch, I've got the BEST tomahtoes!'

HOWEVER!! If you have a loved one dear and are celebrating that vaulted emotion that binds you together closer than words (despite the dreck, there is some great romantic poetry out there, hey, I'm an English major, I know this stuff), I congratulate you, encourage you, even exhort you to show it by buying locally, spend some bucks at your favorite restaurant of choice, a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread (sorry it can't be mine!).
Enjoy! But, as a wonderful card said the other day (and the originator, whom I'd love to credit, can't be found beyond an etsy site, which seems quite right)

"Because we hate all that Valentine's crap...

Here's some bacon.

And here's some views of yesterday, when the sun was slightly shining.

Why do I love cairns? Let me count the ways. 

 One of my favorite stretches of road on Culebra

My ever changing views backyard

And I do have a favorite love poem. Really.

Sonnet XIV

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
 Except for love's sake only. Do not say
 I love her for her smile--her look--her way
 Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
 That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
 A sense of ease on such a day--
 For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may
 Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
 May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
 Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheek dry,--
 A creature might forget to weep, who bore
 Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
 But love me for love's sake, that evermore
 Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.

-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Have a totally loved Tuesday! Do something torrid.