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Jonathan Samuels

Most anyone referring to Valentine's Day will tell you sappy tales about romantic evenings or fourth-grade kisses behind the oak tree. Some will plea for pity because they haven't ever had a date. It's safe to say that your average American male will always manage to blurt out one story or another.

But who really cares?

I prefer Valentine's Day tales of the home-cooked variety, stories that touch on deeper affections. My Valentine's Day memories extend beyond Cupid's arrow and puppy love. Mine are the sort that says blood (the color of valentines) is thicker than water.

Just check the Coop's card section, where the color of red long ago replaced the sea of Christmas green. Sure, there are a number of cards for that significant other or the new name in the black book.

But Hallmark and its competitors have slated a majority of their cards for a myriad relatives.

My fondest V-Day recollections come from my formative years. I remember waking up on those February 14th mornings for Mom's special breakfast--with the kitchen table all decorated in red. My family made a ritual of reading aloud cards sent from our dearest relations.

Heck--I bet if my family had celebrated Christmas, I would have looked forward to the candy hearts and Valentine's cards more than the candy canes and stockings. Who needs Santa Claus when he has sisters, grandmas, and a mom?

The past few years in Cambridge, I've managed to drag myself out of bed on February 14th--but it hasn't been quite the same. The phone calls and mail have had to do the trick.

At least I remembered to send out my cards this year--to Mom, the sisters, the grandmas, the aunts--and even the cute little cousins.

So what do I plan to do this Sunday? I haven't figured it out yet, although I may even go out on a date. But I'll tell you one thing: I think I'll give mom a call tomorrow night to ask her how the breakfast went.

Jonathan Samuels '94 is executive editor of The Crimson. We asked him to write because he has family values.

Her Side

Nancy E. Greene