First, I have to admit that holidays like Valentine’s Day and  Mother’s and Father’s Day have always been very low key in my family. Instead of heading out to pricey crowded restaurants, we stay home and have a special dinner with the exchange of only small gifts.

I really don’t have any memories of any one particular Valentine’s Day. However, I would like to share a bit about how my father, George, always remembered Nana, his mother, on Valentine’s Day.

George Sr., my grandfather, died 16 years before I was born. Nana was widowed with a ten year old son to raise in the midst of the Depression. Added to the sadness is that, by all accounts, my grandfather was an absolutely wonderful man who died way too young of tuberculosis, which was pretty much an occupational hazard if one worked in the industrial mills of Passaic.

We lived in the house that my grandparents bought until the end of 1963. After my parents married, Nana lived upstairs and we lived downstairs.

I do remember Valentine’s Days, just not for any particular year. However, I do remember the gorgeous cards that Dad always gave to Nana.

This card is 7.5 x 9.5 inches, is 3D and has real lace around the heart. The colors have faded, but this is typical of the style of card that Dad bought.

This card dates at least from 1947 before my parents married. I feel very lucky that Nana saved so many cards and photographs.

I used to love to watch Nana open her cards, which she loved. However, with the card always came a gigantic box of chocolates. The box was always dark red with beautiful 3D roses on top. I’m guessing that the box held at least 3 lbs. of chocolates as the box took up a good portion of her lap.

Of course, Nana always shared her treats, which I think were usually Whitman chocolates. They lasted for quite some time because while she shared, she ate them sparingly and made sure little hands couldn’t get into the box when she wasn’t looking!

Thanks, Randy, for this week’s Valentine challenge.