Each year on February 14th, many people exchange cards, candy, flowers, or gifts with their “special” someone; a holiday often dreaded by those who may be single or who could care less about a “Hallmark” holiday. As for me, Valentine’s Day has always secretly been one of my favorite holidays for a very specific reason. Before Valentine’s Day became something to celebrate with my significant other, I endlessly looked for the perfect gift for a different special someone: my granny.
Instead of frantically panicking about finding someone to be my Valentine or knocking myself down for not having someone to celebrate the day of love with, I turned my attention to spoiling my grandmother. Any other day of the year a grandmother spoils her grandchildren, so why should she go without a gift on Valentine’s Day? Ever since I can remember, I would carefully pick out a gift for her for February 14th, sometimes planning months ahead. As a single grandmother she rarely gets the chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day like couples do, so I made a promise to myself years ago to gift her with something because she certainly deserved it.
She deserved it because she was always on the sideline watching me at soccer games, in the bleachers at volleyball and basketball games, driving me to equestrian practice, following behind with her camera capturing every possible moment she could, buying me new school clothes, shopping with me for the perfect dress for the upcoming school dance, and so on. This wonderful woman had done so much for not only me, but my sisters as well throughout school, that I thought Valentine’s Day was the perfect day to show my appreciation.
This year she will be my valentine again. She will always be my Valentine because she’s always there for me, guiding me, helping me with “adult” advice (like making doctor appointments), buying me necessities for school, welcoming me home with home-cooked meals, and talking to me on the phone when I’m homesick. No matter how old I am, she is always there helping me in some small way.
As an opportunity to thank this wonderful loving woman for all she does, I make her my Valentine. I show her my appreciation by gifting her on Valentine’s Day with a bouquet of flowers, a homemade card, candy, a certificate, a lunch spent together, etc. I gift her because she deserves to celebrate this holiday as any other woman does, showered with love and appreciation for all she does.
So to all grannys out there — and to all women — I wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t forget to share some love and kindness to the loving women in your life.
Photos courtesy of www.torzsasztal.com, A Bubbly Life and Etsy.