Weekly Writing Challenge – My Funny Valentine

The Weekly Writing Challenge gives a nod to one of the major holidays recognized in the United States, which is any day that generates a tidy sum for the retailers. It is sad that this kind of math drives many decisions, but that is a topic for another day and post. The particular day in question is, obviously Cupid’s Day to float around with a fresh diaper and loaded arrows looking to pierce the hearts of those we count as special in our lives.

On this 49^th iteration of Valentine’s Day in my personal collection I reflect a bit differently for a couple of reasons. The first I will share with you is because it is the first Valentine’s in which each of my teen age children have a long term “friendlier friend” to enjoy the day with them. To explain that term it comes from an older friend my son has at church that questioned him once about a girl he had interest in by asking if she was a “friend” or a “friendlier friend”. The “friendlier friend” connotation of course is meaning something longer term.

Isaac and Katie

It was interesting to watch my kids approach the holiday with different ideas of how to gift their respective others. This holiday presents myriad ways to knock your valentine off their feet with a bevvy of sweets, petals, diamonds and stuffed critters. What I found interesting is that both my children received country music C.D. s from their valentines, which of course was a home run choice.

When it comes to my valentine I feel like she might have been cheated. Oh I took her out to dinner at the local Olive Garden, but that was the extent of my generosity. Well, not exactly, but due to the circumstances of this week it was the limit imposed by situations beyond my control.

On Monday I gave my wife’s heart a horrible scare as I entered the hospital for the first time in our married life with shortness of breath. Agonizing hours later the best possible diagnosis came back that I had a blood clot in each lung. Why was this the best diagnosis? The alternatives were cancer, heart attack or heart blockage.

Now five days out from that moment I realize that even this was hard enough. Blood clots in the lungs are not that far from the brain which means my wife would be spending Valentine’s Day alone and I certainly never want her to know that pain. Today I am praising God he spared me and guided the doctors to the diagnosis that saved my life. Here is hoping I can celebrate and write about Valentine’s Day for another fifty years.

Recreating the sand art we first made on our honeymoon in 1992.

More My Funny Valentine posts:

1. I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
2. MY FAIR LADY – GARRY ARMSTRONG | SERENDIPITY
3. A Journey of Ten Years | A mom’s blog
4. Daily Prompt: Unconventional Love – Strangely True | SERENDIPITY
5. MY STRANGELY WONDERFUL ROMANCE | SERENDIPITY
6. My Funny Valentine | Vampire Maman
7. Hallmark holiday | Mindful Digressions
8. False Expectations | snapshotsofawanderingheart
9. Playlist | Perceptive Pot Clueless Kettle
10. Fragrant valentine | The Seminary of Praying Mantis
11. Valentine’s Day Can’t Insult My Intelligence if There’s Snow | Bumblepuppies
12. Love Surrounds You | ReFreshing Life
13. Lessons from the Ghosts of Valentines Past | The Femindiary
14. Day 25: Why I Married a Man who got me a Hairdryer for Valentine’s Day | The Ravenously Disappearing Woman
15. Validation Day – Valentine’s Day from an Honest Woman’s Perspective | Shoot the messenger
16. Weekly Writing Challenge| Single Awareness Day | Amy (and The Teddy With Sunglasses)
17. my first valentine | Musings of a Random Mind
18. Afraid of Valentine’s Day? | Myammy! Moving in together at 50…
19. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine. It’s Not Always FUNny. | Tales from the Motherland
20. I’ve been alone for a long time | “The Ish,” presented by the Bohemian Rock Star
21. Ah Bloody Valentines! | The life of T
22. Brief facts on Valentines day/Weekly Writing challenge | standinginthestorm
23. Weekly Writing Challenge – Valentine – The Hopeless Unromantic |
24. I Should Have At Least Called | Sam’s Online Journal
25. Ode to My Valentine | DCTdesigns Creative Canvas
26. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | imagination
27. Not Your Average Valentine | The Short Pages
28. My Funny Valentine: Monday Monster Mashup meets the Weekly Writing Challenge! | jak & Cimmy’s Journal Jar
29. (Un)Funny Valentine – Daily Post “My Funny Valentine?” Challenge 2/10/2014 | blogged artistry
30. To My Valentine… | Babbleogue
31. Love of Many Shoes | Mary J Melange
32. Valentine, Part Two/DP Challenge | I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
33. It’s Valentine’s Day! | TNT
34. St. Hallmark Day Doth Approach | The Eclectic Poet
35. Valentine’s Day…some wifely advice
36. The Boy I Married | East Meets Breast
37. The Valentine’s Letter I wished I’d sent…. | Brownies, Pixies & Horny Toads
38. [WWC] Valentine’s day | Reatividades
39. My Funny Valentine? | “Crone-ing”
40. My Forever Crush | My Weigh To Lose
41. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? – Love, Love, Love | SA:ME (사메)
42. A STRANGELY WONDERFUL ROMANCE | SERENDIPITY
43. Last Minute Expressions of Love | Moments for the journey
44. The Good Wife | Cabin Pressure May Change
45. Weekly Writing Challenge-Love As An Earthling- A Comedy | The Lyons Den
46. We Will Review The Cows! | Not the Family Business!
47. Preparing for My First Real Valentine’s Day | Lilly Lane
48. Get your lovin’ on | why i left my job
49. VISITAS Y PAISES | palabrasdecielo.wordpress.com
50. » Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | Chiquitita
51. DAILY POST: Weekly Writing Challenge | the story of my life
52. Love Yourself | thenaturalprofessor
53. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine | No Apologies
54. Ghost Forest | litadoolan
55. And I came from nowhere like you and your friend: My Funny Valentine | D Lonely Stoner
56. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? « cognitive reflection
57. Weekly Writing Challenge: Valentine Memories | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
58. The Kiss | the intrinsickness
59. My Valentine’s Day Castle | DragonReader
60. Valentine’s Day Terror and Love in Fiction | Creative Mysteries
61. Surviving Valentine’s Day: A Guide For Us Single Ladies | Busy Mind Thinking
62. Valentine Flip-Flop | Fish Of Gold
63. Valentine’s Day: Role Reversal | Busy Mind Thinking
64. ❤ Valentines Day <3: Not My Forte | A Maniac’s Menagerie of Motley Thoughts
65. With or Without a Lover, This Valentine’s Day Is Yours! | Susie Lindau’s Wild Ride
66. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | An Easie Peasie Journal
67. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | MARGARET ROSE STRINGER
68. Another Challenge | gingerninja2013’s Blog
69. The Valentine’s Day Struggle | Minaa B.
70. Movies for Singles on Valentine’s Day | aliewsMuses
71. Ishq Kar Le – Come fall in love | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
72. Roz – Everyday | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
73. Tere Ishq ki Rehmat – Blessings of your Love | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
74. The Sunshine Girl in the Sunset | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
75. Weekly Writing Challenge: Hearts that are Puzzled | wateringcanblog
76. My funny valentine | Claud’s Ramblings
77. “Be Mine” writing-challenge-valentine #poetry #valentine’sday | Moondustwriter’s Blog
78. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine?…Sure | Pop-Culture-Referenced
79. A Confused Valentine’s Day Visitor by P.S. Joshi | Musings on Life & Experience
80. On Just How Much You Love Your Dogs | Notes by Natalie
81. My scary valentine- weekly writing challenge | A picture is worth 1000 words
82. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Fuzzy Valentine | Life of A Fallen Angel
83. An Open Letter to My Valentine | Elements of Thought
84. Where Love is Made | Winding Road
85. My (not so) Funny Valentines! | melissuhhsmiles
86. A toast to St. Valentine | scottjkaniewski
87. Birthday vs Valentine Day | Eva Marasca
88. Weekly Writing Challenge – Valentine’s Day! | Niki’s Thoughts
89. Who you calling incompatible? | Be Inspired Be Inspiring
90. At The Touch Of Commercialism, Everyone Becomes A Lover! | capsulecreations
91. Old Friend | by LRose
92. The Awkward First Date… On Valentines Day. | Relations 101
93. Red flowers, fabulous gifts and the snow: Wait, we’re talking about Valentines? « Days Asleep, Nights Awake
94. Now You See Me… | scandinique
95. The Valentine Rebels | Suis ton coeur.
96. within me lies our | y
97. The Valentine I Had But Never Had | I am S(t)ri…
98. How to spoil your girl on Valentine’s Day | My Food Odyssey
99. My funny Valentine | If today was your last day
100. To My Valentine | Finale to an Entrance
101. 1. Valentine’s Day and Afternoon Delight | Rachel’s Table
     2. Weekly Writing Challenge: Valentine | The Day After
     3. A letter- to My Valentine | Emovere
     4. “Pencilgate”: My Funny Valentine | Pinstripes&Lipgloss
     5. My Mother Once Told Me… | An Upturned Soul
     6. A Valentine From A Dog | Sarah’s Typos
     7. Love is nicer the second time around? | Tales of a slightly stressed Mother!
     8. The 14th of February 1951 – Blacksburg, Virginia | Forgotten Correspondance
     9. It’s Because I Love You, That I Don’t Stab You In Your Beautiful Eyes. Happy Valentine’s Day Dear. | W.T.F.
     10. Autumn’s Return | Lillie-Put
     11. Happy 3rd Birthday! | Sentiments of a Working Mom | Another Mommy Blog
     12. Weekly Writing Challenge: Valentine | medicinalmeadows
     13. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | Reinventing the We’ll
     14. St. Valentine’s Day « Mama Bear Musings
     15. My Deaf Words | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
     16. What to write in a Valentine card | writemybrainsout
     17. The Letter [Weekly Writing Challenge] | Thoughts from Elysium
     18. Help! My Valentine Smells like Poop! | Love, Support, Educate, Advocate, Accept…
     19. What if Cupid was pissed? | Okay, What if ?
     20. Too Much Heaven | Chasing the Stars
     21. Valentine’s Day Haters’ Club – Daily Post Weekly Writing Challenge | Waiting on a Word
     22. Valentine’s Day Haters’ Club – Daily Post Weekly Writing Challenge | Waiting on a Word
     23. The Valentine’s Day Card | Life’s Unfiltered Ramblings
     24. Words for Nancy | tnkerr-Writing Prompts and Practice
     25. An Open Letter to Valentine’s Day | meg lago
     26. The Joy of Books – A Guide for the Valentine’s Day Escape Artist | aliabbasali
     27. The Gift of a Heart for Valentine’s Day | Busy Mind Thinking
     28. Valentines day: do we really need it? | BIGMOUTH STRIKES AGAIN.
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     30. From the Rooftops: A Love Letter | Laceys Leave of Absence
     31. My first blind date – Valentine’s Dance at Mt. St. Gertrude | Creating a New Life
     32. A Gift for Husbands: Respect | Amazed By Grace
     33. Cleaning Up On Valentines | The Chatter Blog
     34. When It Was Okay To Like Valentine’s Day: A Story About A Holiday, Relationships, and Interacting With the Opposite Sex | Eyes Through The Glass – A Blog About Asperger’s
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     36. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | eyes like glass
     37. February 14th, 2007 | Grilled Cheese (& Other Things That Make My World Go ‘Round)
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     40. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Valentine’s Story | seikaiha’s blah-blah-blah
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     42. A Present for the Other Guy | Stealing All the Sevens
     43. A Valentine’s Letter for the Person I’ve Never Met | MAGGIE’S BLOG
     44. Suicide no. 25: Remember the Valentines | derekalanwilkinson
     45. We were in love. And then everything changed forever. | soulfoood
     46. Nude drawing – Weekly Writing Challenge – Funny Valentine | alienorajt
     47. A lesson for my love. | jenny’s lark
     48. Why buy a whole pig, when all you want is a bit of sausage?! | 101 Challenges in 1001 Days
     49. I am not a slutty hugger | jenneralizing
     50. A Valentines Story |
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     52. Valentine’s Day Blows: Death to Cupid | marissabergen602
     53. 10 Gifts I Gave & Received: Love or Something Close Enough, Once Upon a Time | Kosher Adobo
     54. The Fall of Love | Blue Loft
     55. What about Valentine’s Day? | IvyMosquito
     56. 20 Things to Tell My Son About Love | Stiletto Momma
     57. Hope | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
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     59. Valentine’s Day and Yellow Bells | inkblots & blood clots
     60. Rapture | MightWar
     61. The Valentine’s Day blues | Insidethelifeofmoi
     62. How Do You Approach Valentine’s Day? | Pending Questions
     63. Curiosity is My True Love…(wp weekly challenge) | Daily Observations
     64. The Silent Musing | Living in the Moment
     65. Two Valentines day stories….Thank God that love conquers all | Let me tell U a story
     66. A Cynical Cook’s View of Valentine’s Day | Corned Beef Hashtag
     67. Love in the times of Parenting | The Indian Mom
     68. Future generations of lovers | Busy Mind Thinking
     69. Letters to You | Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | Being a Huntress
     70. My Valentine’s Day Wedding (That Never Happened) | Rose Red Stories
     71. Qué es eso de Valentine´s Day? | Of love, life and such magic
     72. MAY I HAVE A TALK WITH YOU ON VALENTINE’S EVE? | Words We Women Write
     73. In Other Words | scottishmomus
     74. My (not-so-funny) Valentine: Weekly Writing Challenge | Blogizing
     75. No flowers for me, thanks! | Tattered Stamp
     76. My Funny Valentine: Weekly Writing Challenge | Blogizing
     77. Love pirates | fifty5words
     78. Feminism and Flowers: My Bitter Take on Valentine’s Day! | Abstractions of Life
     79. Playing Chicken: Who Says ‘I Love You’ First? | Kosher Adobo
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     81. Black Valentine | Writings of The Midnight Thief
     82. My Sweet Valentines | What I’ve Learned For Now
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     84. Better lucky than smart | Quod Ero Spero
     85. Singles Awareness Day? | That One Nerdy Chick
     86. The “V” Word | Wenrich Family Adoption: Becoming a Family of 4
     87. Beading Saves the Day on the Eve of Valentine’s Day | Running Brook Reflections
     88. Unashamed Love | Lightning Bug
     89. My Funny Valentine … The Movie | Life with Tess
     90. List of Sneaky Ways to Find Out If You Really Know Someone! | Once Upon Your Prime. . .
     91. Valentines Day?!? | freepositive
     92. Happy Half-Birthday | aNadventures
     93. Worst Valentine’s Day Ever | Sunday Epidemic
     94. My Funny Valentine (Weekly Writing Challenge) | jennsmidlifecrisis
     95. Happy Valentine’s Day! (also Fiesta Friday #3) | The Novice Gardener
     96. Here Is Love. | andthatgotmethinking
     97. Wellentyme’s Day | Repressd
     98. The Valentine’s Dilemma | Musical Foodie Love
     99. Single Heart Liberation Day | Green Embers
     100. The 18th of February 1945 – Bastogne, Belgium | Forgotten Correspondance
     101. 1. We’ve all been raised by evil love stories | The Nameless One
          2. More than a feeling | How to Play House
          3. Valentine’s Day Runaway | Tish Farrell
          4. The Valentine | Stories From My Mind
          5. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? | The Ageless Dummy
          6. Remember Me | FILMS | FOOD | POETRY
          7. Happy Valentine’s Day! | How to write a memo
          8. Mary May and the Valentine Time Ship | Words Darling
          9. A Valentine’s Story | themiracleisaroundthecorner
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          11. The Valentine That Never Was | Polymathically
          12. Love – It’s What You Claim You Deserve | living my life
          13. My funny Valentine | Where is my mind?
          14. Happy Flipping Valentine’s Day | thisblogisepic
          15. My Valentine – Ramblings from the Swamp
          16. Lovely Friday | asweetbrightthing
          17. A Heart Like No Other | Tell It Slant Mama