By Kaye Barley
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I love email.
I love the internet.
I love Facebook and blogs and DorothyL.
Staying in touch with friends has always been important to me, but I’m probably one of those really annoying people who takes it all a step too far by constantly sending everyone “stuff” I think they really need to see. Snippets of information, pictures, or those funny captioned dogs and cats from I can has cheezburger? or I has a hotdog (I love those!).


I do not like email chain letters. When they first started hitting my computer, I continually fell for the line that said “If you send this to 300,000 people you’ll get a surprise on your screen.” I never ever did see that surprise. Did you? Did anyone?! What WAS it??!
And while I love all the immediate gratification of instant communication, I miss long newsy letters showing up in my mailbox. My “real” mailbox. The one the snowplow knocks over at least once a year.
And I miss those silly little valentine cards.
Remember when you were in school and would exchange valentines with your classmates?

Weren’t they the cutest?!

And there was always a special one for the boy you “liked.”

They didn’t always make any sense . . . .

And, like a lot of things back then, they weren’t always politically correct (but they certainly never hurt anyone) . . .
They were just funUNLESS – you didn’t get a valentine back from that boy you liked.
You either love or hate Valentine’s Day. There are the romantics who love it, and there are those who are of a mind that Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays made up by florists and greeting card manufacturers to take their money.I love it.
I don’t expect presents on Valentine’s Day. Don’t have to have candy or flowers. But ohhhhhh – if there’s not a valentine card somewhere around the house with my name on it, I am going to be one very unhappy woman.

I’ll be tickled pink if I receive all the valentines imaginable over the internet from friends. My girlfriends are always able to come up with funny and clever things that do make me laugh, or smile, or even cry, and I love that.
But.Donald Scott Barley better never ever never send me a virtual valentine in lieu of the real thing. Nuh uh. And if it happens, well – y’all will hear about it. For real.
As silly as it may be, I would be crushed.
You knew that, didn’t you?How about you guys? Do you love Valentine’s Day or hate it? Not give it a thought? Do you expect candy, flowers and a card? All of the above? None of the above? Will you, like me, pitch a hissy if you don’t receive a Valentine Card?
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Thanks to the wonderful women at Poe’s Deadly Daughters for having me here!
