It's all about LOVE...

(An article I wrote for Sojourn's Jan-Feb Travelogue. For locals, there are some date ideas.)

V-Day: It’s all about Love…Or it can be
By Lorie King

Whether you are looking forward to it in eager, starry-eyed anticipation or dreading it with a passion, February 14 is fast-approaching. And we all know what that means…it’s time to think about love.

Growing up, my brothers and I always looked forward to Valentine’s Day. Mom wasn’t the only one who got flowers and candy---dad would also choose something for each of us: flowers for the ladies, stuffed animals for the boys, and a round of candy for all! It was a way of celebrating the love that we shared for one another. I’ve since learned that not everyone has such fond memories and associations (thank you, Lonely Hearts Club members).

In the same way that we can’t escape the creepy Halloween masks in October or the fake snow and mistletoe around Christmas, we can’t escape the proliferation of pink and red hearts and the pervasive aroma of crème-filled chocolates that is soon to surround us. But we can set out in our minds and hearts to redeem it.

Let’s celebrate love. Our God is love. And he asks---and enables---us to love others. If you have a lover, fabulous. Enjoy each other. If you don’t, fabulous. Show someone else how much you love them.

Out of ideas?
Try some of these:
• Dress up as pirates and go parrot shopping at local pet stores.
• Go to Pizza King in New Albany for a fun-filled dinner (they bring your drink to you on a train). Buy each other bouncy balls.
• Go for a drive. You can only make right-hand turns. When you finally get stuck, turn around and then you can only make left-hand turns. Repeat until you find something interesting. Take pictures along the way.
• Go to a major chain bookstore, and leave notes to future readers in copies of your favorite books.
• Walk around the city and perform short silent plays in front of security cameras.
• Write a piece of fiction together at a coffee shop or café. Ask strangers when you get stuck.
• Do the lamest tourist thing in your area that you have both secretly wanted to do forever. Have an unabashed good time!
• Play hide and seek in the park. Find as many good climbing trees as you can, climb them and collect photographic evidence.
• Go for a drive with the passenger blindfolded, choosing directions at random and see where you end up.
• Rent a movie you've never seen before. Set on mute and improvise dialogue.

Single, or just wanting to spread the love?
Try these:
• Surprise your parents/grandparents/brother/sister/best friend with a call. Tell them that you love them (or at least that you're thinking about them).
• Choose someone and be their secret Valentine (not stalker).
• Invite another single friend over for dinner and go all-out as host.
• Call the local hospital or nursing home and arrange to take Valentine’s Day cards to patients.
• Treat it like Thanksgiving---make a list of all the things you personally have to celebrate about being single this year, or how you’ve experienced love in your life this year.
• Babysit for some married friends or a single parent with a hot date.
• If you are a single parent, ask your child what would make this Valentine's Day special. Listen to the answer without trying to change it. Then do it.

In the mood for a little culture?
Here are some local happenings:

Valentine’s Day Romantic Retreat
A romantic candlelit hike through Jefferson Memorial Forest that ends with a beautiful view of the lights of Louisville. The hike’s destination is the Forest’s beautiful Manor House where you’ll be greeted by a roaring fire to warm you up, hot beverages and desserts provided by local bakeries. Meets in the Horine Reservation.
Wednesday, February 14, from 7:30 pm to 10 pm
($20.00 per couple - reservations must be made by Friday, February 9; for more info, call (502) 368-5404)

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure
A chilling mystery involving a kidnapped damsel, scandalous letters and London's seamy underworld finds Master Sleuth Sherlock Holmes pitted against his two most perilous foes: certain death and impassioned love.
Actors Theatre of Louisville, from January 30 to February 24
(http://www.actorstheatre.org)

Uncharted Realms- Louisville Ballet
From the melding of classical music and dance with that of West Africa to a pair of world premieres, this triple bill promises to be quite an adventure in dance.
Kentucky Center, Whitney Hall
Friday, 2/16 at 8pm; Saturday, 2/17 at 2pm and 8pm
(www.kentuckycenter.org)

Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay
Author and artist David Macaulay has demystified the workings and origins of everything from simple gadgets to elaborate architectural structures. This exciting exhibition that takes an in-depth look at Macaulay's artistic process and extensive body of work, including The Way Things Work, Castle, Cathedral, City, Mill, Ship, and Mosque.
Speed Art Museum, from February 6 to May 13.

Itching to spend your hard-earned dollar to show a little love?
The most treasured gifts and ways to show love come in all shapes, sizes and price tags. From the horse’s mouth:

Dream gift:
A beautiful, thoughtful surprise
A cabin getaway weekend
A puppy
A trip to Paris
Flowers and a really big hug
A bonsai tree
A girlfriend
A Mediterranean Cruise
An actual date

Best thing you’ve done for someone

My guy friends and I anonymously dropped off flowers, chocolate and cards for our single female friends.

The best gift I’ve given was probably a video game he wanted, because I knew it would mean I would see much less of him for awhile but that he would love it.

Every year, I choose a Valentine to write mushy letters to and give a stuffed gorilla.

We have spent the past 30 years celebrating Valentine's Day together! Valentine's Day isn't really a "more special day" for us because we try to live EACH day as if it were Valentine's Day. We pray that with the close of each day, we have celebrated our love for each other and have shown love in a special way to our "gift from God" daily.

One year I made fortune cookies for a single friend and stuffed them with verses of encouragement and hilarious “proverbs” to make them smile and feel loved.

Best thing someone’s done for you

My husband told me he loved me for the first time around Valentine's Day last year. He made me a mix CD chronicling our relationship from beginning to its then present state, and entitled it the name of the very song that would later be in our wedding.

A few years ago, my husband was out of the country on Valentine’s Day but had arranged to have my roommate at the time have a beautiful bouquet of flowers on my bed with about 100 of those kiddie Valentine cards spread out all over--he had written a different message of reasons he loved me on each one.

My mom put together a "he-man woman-haters" dinner (see the movie Little Rascals) for my single guy friends and I.

My now-husband wrote down a diary history of how we met and fell in love. He then typed it up with poems and songs that were special to us and made it into a book and made me a CD with special songs.

My high school sweetheart had a star named after me in the Official Star registry.

I don't think I could ever top 'I love you' for the first time. Definitely not with flowers or chocolate or stuffed animals.