a "real" valentine...

"mom, will i get a valentine tomorrow?"

"of course.  your friends will all make them for you, like you did for them."

"no.  you know, like a real valentine...?"

OHHHHH!!!!  right.  a real valentine. 

"well, honey, is there someone you are hoping to get a valentine from?"

she got all shy and girly, saying "oh.  no, not really.  well, maybe."

"are you gonna tell me who?"

"his name starts with an 'M'..."

and, this is where it begins...

she made him a special valentine, hoping to slip it into his backpack rather than give it to him openly.  she wrote honestly, yet simply; telling him that she "likes him a little".  i told her it was perfect. 

do we always hope for a special valentine?  do we ever stop wanting to be someone's valentine?  for one day, everyone wants to mean something to someone...to hear words that mean so much, even if it's only "i like you a little".  it's funny.  i know there are plenty of people who don't like valentine's day; who think it's silly to do so much for someone you love on one very commercialized day rather than all throughout the year...but, then i think "why not?"  i'll admit i'm a bit of a closet hopeless romantic who secretly loves everything about the day...even though i sometimes play all tough and pretend to not care one way or another about it.  i love all the pink, the hearts, the ridiculous anticipation, the sappy cards, the overpriced flowers, the chocolate...the love.  and, if you're so lucky as to have someone special in your life, why wouldn't you want to take every opportunity possible to remind them of how very much they mean to you?  oh, i know...too many perceived implications may come from your gestures.  so, take the time to do or say whatever is on your heart that won't confuse them.  it's really not that hard...especially if my eight year old can do it...simple words coming from an open heart with honest effort mean the most. 

and, to the little boy who will get a surprise in his backpack tomorrow...you are one very lucky guy...she's a pretty amazing little girl and she chose you.