The intricacies of the human heart are revealed in this exhibit
shown in the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia
It's Valentines Day. A day when hearts feature prominently and quite rightly, because we all have a heart, although some people's heart doesn't work as well as it should. I'd like to spare a thought for those who have heart problems, medical as well as emotional and especially to those who are suffering a broken heart.
The history of Valentine's Day dates back as early as the 4th century BC in the Roman Empire. The holiday was originally set aside to honour Juno, the queen of the gods and goddesses and the goddess of marriage. However, when Claudius ll was the ruler of Rome he was unpopular due to the bloody wars he fought. Many men didn't want to leave their wives to fight so Claudius banned the festival and marriages.
Most Romans disagreed with this decree, however a priest by the name of St Valentine, began to perform marriages secretly. He was eventually discovered and thrown into jail where he was sentenced to death. It is believed many young people would visit him to lift his spirits. He was eventually killed but before he died he wrote the guard's daughter a letter thanking her for her frequent visits and signed it 'Love from your Valentine'. Since then, St Valentine has become known as the 'patron saint of lovers'. A few quotes I like:
Love isn't blind, it just only sees what matters”.
-Anon
“It takes 3 seconds to say 'I Love You' but a lifetime to prove it.”
-Anon
True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked.”
–Erich Segal
May you have a Happy Valentines Day. Be kind to each other. It's the quality of love that matters, not the quantity.
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14 comments:
Having participated in the frantic activity of many men of certain ages (ie over 40) today who were desperately searching for the most appropriate sort of flowers and cards to present to "'er indoors" I am very heartened that a sort of romantic love still exists even in these stricken times.
What is concerning, if you are a bleedin' heart liberal, is that all the flowers on offer seem to be grown in Kenya.
My spirits, however, were lifted when I noticed the callow youth in front of me in the queue had not bought flowers. He had a card and some 'hand crafted Brownies*'. But I do wonder if he realised that he and his Valentine will end up paying for them for the next 5, 10, 15 years... or for ever?
*Brownies = not quite true, and sometimes total lies, uttered by Gordon Brown.
I think forever's nearer the mark.
Today I couldn't get out so 'him indoors', thoughtfully bought me a card to give him. I didn't ask him to do this by the way.
The card has a picture of Tommy Couper on the front with the header "I'm on a whisky diet" followed by "I've lost 3 days already". I seldom drink whisky and I doubt if I would manage an alcohol diet.
Never mind, his night on the settee won't do him any harm. I'll leave the heating on :-)
Oh Ted I've just said on your blog, if you'd been 30 minutes quicker with your last post I'd have included it in my SSS post. Shame though may have room for it next week as today's the first day of the week for them.
I have heard of the SS but what's the SSS? "Scottish Schizophrenic Socialists"?
Ted that's naughty. I'm too old, nay mature, to be schizophrenic!
It's Subrosa's Super Seven blogs. I'm doing an Iain Dale but only on Saturdays and it's not a Daley Dozen but a Super Seven. Not all Scottish either, it's just a list of posts which I found interesting and/or intriguing.
Bah! Humbug! Valentine's day is a commercial con and should be treated as such.
Are individuals supposed to love one another more on this day and less the day before and after.
Loving people is what we do every day of the year and should not be treated as an excuse for commercial enterprises to make profits from the sale of cards, flowers and chocolates irrespective of the VAT imposed.
Did I get a Valentine Card I hear you ask? Yes, I got two from my lovely foster children but not from Cathy. Grrr...!
Grumpy John!!
See there you go again this morning brownlie - old grump that you are today.
My post was as much about hearts as it was about love. It was a light hearted attempt at perhaps making people think for a minute about their emotional side.
I got a card. In fact he bought it for me to give to him yesterday (without being asked I may add). It has a photo of Tommy Couper on the front with the headline 'I'm on the whisky diet', followed by 'I've lost 3 days already'. Not that I'm the whisky drinker here at all but he'd obviously liked the card anyway. Kind thought, stupid result! I'm still smiling anyway.
subrosa,
Hee! Hee! - be careful with that settee!!!
Is that what a heart looks like ? Thats not what you see on cards and stuff, huh!!!
A heart looks kind of, well, a lump of meat really and this one has been worked so as you see the inside. I thought it was superb. Didn't you do anatomy at school? I loved it. Lots of the boys had to go out when we were doing disections, weaklings.
I'll dig out a picture of a heart for you to use next year, a nice juicy one :)
I bought a small number of hand made chcolates plus card. SWMBO just came in declaring that the chocs were all eaten and a great tragedy had befallen. She did consume them of course!
Argg no thanks Subrosa, my last flat mate was a paramedic and then went to become a pathologist. He had plenty of books on opened heads and bodys. I kept a log on the kitchen knives just incase he had plans for me.
She sounds like a woman after my own heart Oldrightie. I don't like chocolate too much but the hand made ones are irresistible.
I see Spook. I'd count the knives in the drawer when your girlfriend's round tonight too. 2am?? Men!
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