Thirty Years of Valentines, Thirty Types of Love
Okay, maybe not thirty. But at least six. For me, Valentine's Day has never really been about romance. At each stage of my life it has been about a different kind of love and a different kind of lesson. Right in the Childhood: Treasure Hunts When my brother Brady and I were kids, Valentine's Day was one of my favorite holidays because my mom would send us on a treasure hunt around the house. After handing us the first clue, it was up to us to figure out where the next clue was. Each rhyming clue would send us to the next location until finally we reached the treasure - usually a basket with candy and stuffed animals. Maybe some heart-shaped sunglasses. Childhood Valentine's Day was all about family love, with Brady and I giggling and racing and shoving each other out of the way to find the next clue. And adding one more notch to my lifelong love affair with words and wit. Elementary School: BFFs and Social Landmines While the merits of this practice