Going Out      02/14/23

Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont, Florida

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ~ Matthew 22:36-39

It’s Valentine’s Day!  The day for love and romance, but have you ever wondered how it all began?  I discovered two different articles that compliment each other with details. I’m very sorry, but I don’t have the reference for the first one.  ☹

According to The New York Times, it’s possible that the holiday is based on a combination of two men. There were, after all, two Valentines executed on February 14 (albeit in different years) by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century A.C.E., reports NPR. It’s believed that the Catholic Church may have established St. Valentine’s Day to honor these men, who they believed to be martyrs.

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl—possibly his jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France. ~ history.com

So we see that it’s thanks to two different martyrs of the Faith that we have cards and candy and flowers and a host of other things that cause people to spend an average of $100 per person to celebrate this great day.  How in the world it came to this, I cannot say . . . . 

It almost cost us missing out on dinner though.

Alafia River State Park, Lithia, Florida

Just so’s ya know . . . the locals pronounce it “AL-a-fi”. Why there’s an ‘a’ on the end, I have no clue. 😊

It was another short, uneventful 70-mile move today. That’s the way we like it.

We have a beautiful site!  There are a bevy of osprey nests, birds singing, grassy areas that surround us, distance between neighbors . . .

Sounds idyllic doesn’t it?

It was! 

Until a male cardinal decided to let us know his displeasure over this supplanter in his territory – – in no uncertain terms.  He repeatedly attacks our side mirrors, our Jeep fender . . . but to no avail.  We’re still here.  I feel kinda sorry for him because he’s been very persistent every day we’ve been here so far.

Since we moved today and it’s Valentine’s Day, Blaine took me to a local pizza joint (not too many celebrators there, you see, and we didn’t have to clean up much 😊)

The only problem was, he forgot his wallet.

That left us scrambling around in the Jeep for cash.  Fortunately, for whatever reason, Blaine likes to keep a bunch of quarters in his vehicles.  They paid for half our dinner.  Water and no leftovers, but the ‘works’ pizza at Fish hawk Pizza was most excellent!