Last year at this time, we were still conducting all our traditional February celebrations in the usual way \u2014 including Valentine\u2019s Day. As you know, we haven\u2019t, for many, many years, gone out on Valentine\u2019s Day. A long time ago we decided that the restaurants were too crowded, prices were higher, and usually we had to deal with a special (read limited) menu. So we traditionally go out just before, or just after, February 14th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, it\u2019ll the same \u2014 but not same. We won\u2019t go out for Valentine\u2019s Day \u2014 but \u2014 we won\u2019t go out just before, or just after, either. Of course the reason this year is not the crowds, it\u2019s COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But one thing will remain the same \u2014 my (almost) annual Valentine blog. It\u2019s hard to write something different every year about the same event, even though this year it\u2019ll certainly be different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I thought this year we might talk a little about the first valentine \u2014 it seems kind of appropriate since it was written in a prison \u2014 a place most of feel like we\u2019ve been in lately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first \u201cvalentine\u201d was actually a few lines in a poem, written by Charles, the Duke of Orl\u00e9ans, in 1415, when he was 21 years old. Charles grew up in a grouchy French royal family. He was the nephew of King Charles VI of France \u2014also known as Charles the Mad.
Like most royals of the time, Charle\u2019s marital life was a matter of state \u2014 not heart. At age 12, he was married off to his 17-year old cousin and daughter of King Charles VI, Isabela of Valois. (Isabella was already a widow after being first married at age six.)
During the years long French civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, Charles was captured and imprisioned by the Burgundians. While held prisoner, he penned a poem to his wife\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My very gentle Valentine,<\/em> Doesn\u2019t exactly fall in the \u201croses are red, violets are blue\u201d category, but given the grim circumstances under which it was written, that\u2019s no surprise. So as to not leave you with a depressing story today, I recently read about a study conducted at the University of Rochester that found that men viewed women wearing red or standing in front of a red background as significantly more attractive and sexually desirable than women wearing or standing in front of different colors. Women also felt the same way about men wearing red. The study hypothesized that red also symbolizes confidence, spontaneity, and determination \u201a all important factors in a romantic pursuit. Valentine\u2019s Day has always promoted the fact that red is the color of passion and sexuality\u2026 the study seems to confirm that belief. Like they say, follow the science\u2026 Last year at this time, we were still conducting all our traditional February celebrations in the usual way \u2014 including Valentine\u2019s Day. As you know, we haven\u2019t, for many, many years, gone out on Valentine\u2019s Day. A long time ago … Continue reading
Since for me you were born too soon,<\/em>
And I for you was born too late.<\/em>
God forgives him who has estranged<\/em>
Me from you for the whole year.<\/em>
I am already sick of love,<\/em>
My very gentle Valentine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charles was imprisoned\u00a0 for 25 year and was never able to see his wife\u2019s reaction to the letter \u2014 She died while Charles was in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Happy Valentine\u2019s Day.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"