By Loretta Humble/Around the Town
I’ve really been thinking Valentines lately. And as a public service, I am here to try to get you to think about making somebody a valentine. I know it is the last minute, but there is still time. Even if you are a day or so late, there is still time. It would be nice if you made it for us at Cedar Lake Nursing Home, but it would be just as nice if you to make it for somebody you love, and send us a picture of it.
I got on this Valentine kick when I saw all the Valentine’s Day stuff Cedar Lake Nursing Home had going on. Our Activity Director Terrina already had folks making valentines, and has a candle-light sweetheart party planned. I really got interested in the valentine-making part of it. Then we kicked it up a notch, by challenging every staff member and every visitor we could button-hole to make a valentine. And then we had the nerve to ask some of our really fine artist friends to make us valentines, and they did. We even got one from Malaysia. We asked the school, and they brought us a wall full of valentines. We are tickled to death with the response we’ve been getting.
But my best fun started when my friend John and I did what I’ve now named the Get-yourself-an-old-magazine-and make-a-valentine-challenge. It really opened my eyes to the creative possibilities that lie in old magazines. This is why I am sharing this with you:
It made us play. People need to play more. It seems like some of us have to have an excuse to play. Ours was that we were trying to set an example to get these other folks to do crafts. Once we had that excuse, we absolutely loved it!
The challenge is simple: You get to choose your magazine—old magazines are everywhere. You get construction paper, paste, and scissors. And a pen, if you want it. Then you cut out words and pictures, and make the best valentine you can with just those things.
John chose an old Conde Nast. I found an old Smithsonian. He worked hard for maybe an hour, and did a wonderful job. It is posted on www.facebook.com/aroundthetown if you want to scroll down and find it. I’m still working on mine.
As I write this, the best example of a collage valentine that has shown up here is from Donna Rinn (pictured). It came from a Good Housekeeping, and it is beautiful. You can see it on www.facebook.com/aroundthetown too. More are coming.
Our excuse for starting this was to bring a little fun to the nursing home residents, to brighten their lives a little. But once we got started playing, it brightened our own lives more. I want to brighten your lives a little. So I’m giving you an excuse to play.
Quick! Make a Valentine. It’s not too late. Challenge your partner, or your kids if you can, but if they won’t play, make them a valentine anyhow. You will love it. Then give it to them, or bring or send it to Cedar Lake Nursing Home or some other place like that.
That is your assignment.
There is something freeing about being assigned. You have been asked to do it–you don’t have to feel silly playing with scissors and glue—you are brightening the lives of senior citizens. And you certainly are—but I promise you—if you take a little time to get creative and play with this, you will brighten your own life, too.