Sargie and I dancing earlier this morning to celebrate Valentine's Day

February 14, 2014 – Friday – Valentine’s Day!

-1 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the young lovers out there… and we’re all young lovers at heart. If you're not, you need to go live under a bridge and wait for Billy goats to pass overhead. Though most of us no longer go to the Five and Dime to buy our large packet of Valentine’s Day cards so we might carefully sign each to put in our classmate’s homemade construction paper mailboxes, it’s still nice to have one day a year that celebrates nothing but pure, unadulterated, love.

Valentine’s Day was huge for Dad. He always bought Mom a dozen red roses, back when only flower shops carried them, they cost dollars per bud, and most were imported from far and distant lands. Dad also bought Mom a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates and a small one for my sister and me.

Dad was a romantic, a living Mr. Valentine. The man might hear a slow song he liked on the radio and would gather Mom in his arms and immediately begin to dance. Dad wasn’t slow to show the world how much he cared for Mom. When it came to Mom, he lived Valentine’s Day year round.  

Somewhere along the way, in this modern era of digital convenience, it seems Valentine’s Day has taken a back seat to the newest cause-of-the-day. We can read about Russia failing to recognize the gay/lesbian movement, what kind of rock band a snow boarder plays in, or how long your President’s last vacation was, but one doesn’t read much about the only day we celebrate pure love. I don’t understand it, but then I don’t have to. Here on Pentoga Road, Sargie and I still celebrate Valentine’s Day. Wonderful.

It snowed on Thursday. After my morning walk, Brutus and I cleared the back patio and drive, then turned our attentions to playing fetch. It wasn’t the blood and guts variety… I’m still healing from our last wrestling match.

The afternoon was spent grading assignments.

I talked with my buddy, Scott, in Atlanta, Georgia, who is recovering from a motorcycle accident. He’s home now and continues to heal. Though we occasionally send emails back and forth, it was good to actually have a conversation with him. The boy is upbeat, very positive, and knowing Scott as I do, he’ll be on his feet in the shortest amount of time possible. Scott prefers to do his deep thinking while on the move.

It was cold and snowy… a good day for vegetable/beef stew. I grabbed any and every type of vegetable I could get my hands on, added some good old fashioned beef, and made a huge pot yesterday. Topped with dumplings, it simmered all day and made the house smell wonderful. I enjoyed going outside so that I could re-enter and smell it all over again.

I was asked how I make my dumplings. They are easy. I just use Krusteez Pancake Mix… add a bit of water, make the dough to the desired consistency, and drop spoonfuls into the boiling stew. They come out perfect every time.

Sargie had an appointment with her beautician after work, but cancelled due to the heavy snow that was falling. Home early Thursday evening, the girl came bearing gifts. She gave me two long sleeved t-shirts, the type I wear every day in the winter months, (one a Packers shirt!) and a new “knock around” coat. My old coat, one I’ve had since my arctic days, finally gave up the ghost a few weeks ago. I kept up the family tradition and got her a dozen red roses. I’ve also been known to wrap my arms around her and dance when a slow tune comes on the radio.

Sargie closes tonight and won’t be home until late. I’ve got papers to grade, five miles to hike, snow to plow, and fetch to play. No doubt, there’s enough laundry to wash a load or two. It’s going to be a busy one, but then, I’m not surprised.

A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Pentoga Road