I’m talking about my mom. LOL. I got to spend time with her this past week. When we were growing up, my Dad always traveled on Valentine’s Day or thereabouts. It was, in fact, the only time of year he traveled. He was, as I’ve mentioned a few times, an actuary. In fact, he was one of the best around. Mid-February always saw the yearly convention of the Society of Actuaries or the Enrolled Actuaries or one of the groups to which he belonged. It always took place in the nation’s capital so Dad would just drive down for it. He’d spend the requisite 2-3 days there and get home as fast as he could. When my next older sister went off to college and my youngest sister and I were the only two left at home, Dad decided that year to take Mom and the two of us with him. That was my first trip to DC. I was a homeschooled 9th grader. Lots of fun on that trip. But; all the years before and most of the after that one year were different for us. St. Valentine’s Day became a day where Mom and us youngest kids would go to Mass and then go out for the day. We’d have lunch at the diner, go shopping at the mall, and end up at our favorite Italian restaurant for dinner before going home to watch a movie. I am just realizing how Jersey that last sentence is. No worry, she made this day into a fun and memorable tradition for us. It was never a focus on romantic love but a a day in which we celebrated our family bond; and my wife and I have more or less done the same with our kids.
So when I saw Mom a few days ago, I presented her with a heart shaped box of chocolates just like when I was a kid. She got a kick out that. To honor her, here’s one of her favorite songs from when she was a younger lady. Enjoy!









