Valentine ’ s Day was always a doubly exciting day in my childhood because we got to celebrate in schooland it was also my younger sister Carla ’ s birthday , so we ’ d have a party at hometoo . Iremember that Feb . 14 , 1966 when Iwas packing up my books , putting on my coat , grabbing my

Barbie lunch box and collecting all of the Valentines I ’ d received that day . The nuns made us march in a row up the side stairs outside theschool to the busesand Iwas clutching my cards in my hand so that Icould admire

them alongthe way . A boy behind me was fooling around and knocked me forward so that my face hit the stepand Icracked my two front teeth . I didn ’ t try to break my fall because Ididn ’ t want to lose my cards . Kids ! There was blood everywhere and Iwas crying and there was aflurry of attention .

The next thing Iremember , Iwas homeinbed , my Valentines destroyed , and Iwas not able to attend the party because Iwas too beaten up and it was dangerousfor my teeth . You can only imagine how much “ fun ” Ihad with my dentist the nextweeks that passeduntil my teeth were shaved and cappedproperly . It would be agrossunderstatement to say that alittle of the holiday ’ s luster was lost on me that year .

When my triplets were in kindergarten and it came time forValentine ’ s Day , Iremembered my own experience with the cardsand had abit of a chuckle . My girls were so excited about writing the cards and attaching candy

and giving them out in school . Rules had changed about thatand everybody had to give cards to every member of the class – theycouldn ’ t be selective and leave akid out . It may have defeated the whole purpose of aValentine , but it was amuch kinder and more inclusive approach .

My daughters ’ first Valentine ’ s Day came and went without any fanfare , so I figured whatever black cloudIhad once been undersomany years ago had not transferred to them . Or maybe it ’ s just that kids carry backpacks on their shouldersnow and knowtokeep their hands free . Whatever the reason , it sure was fun greeting the girls after school and seeing their faces shine with delight attheir treasures .

HappyValentine ’ s Day ! ● – AMELIA DUGGAN

SINGLE CANDIES : RON CHAPPLE STUDIOS / GETTY IMAGES / HEMERA ; CANDY GROUP : JENIFOTO / GETTY IMAGES / ISTOCKPHOTO

48 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2017 | ( 201 ) FAMILY