She kissed me back. Right on the lips, the type of kiss I’m normally opposed to unless it’s from someone to whom I’m married.

“I love you, too, Mommy,” she said, and hugged me hard. She leaned back and looked at me, like she was trying to remember something she’d been taught.

“Why I no can marry you?” she asked.

So much love. People grouse about Valentine’s Day being silly and commercial and fake and I guess I used to be one of those people, but probably not since I met Ray and definitely not since I had Sophie. This holiday was made for her — not only is it a celebration of love for a kid exploding with it but it’s a celebration of the heart for a kid whose own blood-pumper has been pulled twice from her chest for repairs.

And so I heart you, Valentine’s Day. Can’t help it. Nor can I help getting downright ridiculous on the whole topic. Last night I was up til 2 making valentines for Sophie’s class, and today I snuck out of work to make heart-shaped goggles with her class, dropped cards at Annabelle’s school, baked red heart-shaped whoopie pies for my co-workers and now I have to run home to get the heart-shaped pasta in the water for a special valentine dinner at home. Typically I care if Ray acknowledges a holiday (he’s really good about it) but today I don’t much care whether he got me anything. I bought a little bunch of hot pink carnations for the family the other day; they’re perfect.

Silly? Sure. Commercial? In spades. Fake? I suppose. But there are worse things than a day dripping with sugar. If Valentine’s Day can make any of us feel — even for a few minutes, even with the aid of chocolate and commerce — the way Sophie feels on a regular basis, more power to it. We can all detox tomorrow.

This is our family creation, circa 2011. Annabelle drew it, I stitched it, Sophie (and the Beatles) came up with the quote. (And the fantastic Heather Hales did the card design; I hear she’s for hire, check her out.)

Happy Valentine’s Day, dear friends!

xoxo

Amy