Went to Mom's house for dinner tonight. It's been a lousy, cold day here. Even though it's in the 20's, the wind chill is just terrible. Mom asked us to pick up a few things at the store for her, which, of course, we're happy to do. You see, my mom doesn't drive. She's had a license since the 50's which she renews regularly. She just doesn't drive, so now that dad is gone, shopping is a bit more of a chore for her. We passed the Steak 'n Shake in Hoffman Estates and had to swing around to go back and get a picture of their sign - it just wasn't something we expected to see! We had our nice pasta dinner at mom's sans Diane and the dogs (who were up in Michigan for the extended weekend). For some reason, we were just talking and talking and didn't realize we're still sitting at the dining room table at 20 to 8! In general, mom seems to be doing OK. We talked about dad and getting rid of some of his things (which she has been doing), so it's be a bit therapeutic for her. I'm starting to sense the very beginnings of a slight loneliness. It could be that the weather has been bad so she hasn't been able to get out much (at least, that's what I'm hoping). She talked about that she REALLY wanted to go to Las Vegas, but I think she wants to go with somebody - but they don't have to be at the same hotel or anything. It's like she's OK if she's there by herself, but she just wants to have a couple of meals with somebody while she's there. I'm trying to figure out if she's trying to tell us something. Found out my sister is taking another trip to the Caribbean next month. Don't know where - mom didn't seem to recall. She said the name wasn't familiar.

Something I wanted to share with you - yesterday was Valentine's Day. Now, for Carol & me, it's just a Hallmark Holiday, and we don't really celebrate it. We don't celebrate Sweetest Day either. Why? I'm not really sure - I mean we've been married over 23 years, Do we really need a specific day to tell each other we love them? Why? I guess to us, it's a bit ludicrous to have this saccharine day.

But I wanted to share one other thing. You see, to some people, their Valentine's Day may have been ruined and would never become a day of celebration. Carol is one of these people. You see, Carol lost her dad 8 years ago on Valentine's Day. It was sudden and perhaps accidental. Without going into too much detail, lets just say a paramedic who was treating him for what was thought to have been a heart attack, sort of misdiagnosed, mis-treated, and mis-medicated him, and an extended delay in getting a Life Flight helicopter to where he was for transport when transporting him via ambulance would have been faster - all contributed to his death. It was hard to handle and the day is just doesn't hold the same "frivolity" as it perhaps once did.

Then there's Robyn and Todd. I asked you to keep them in your thoughts. They, too, will no longer celebrate Valentine's Day. They still need our thoughts, prayers, and support and not some mean, hurtful comments.

So the next time someone says they don't celebrate Valentine's Day - don't you dare jump all over them for not doing it. There may just be a seriously valid reason for not participating.t