Writer’s Block: Happy Valentine’s Day

By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

“For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” -Geoffrey Chaucer, 1382.

According to a quick Google search and trip down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, the verse above is the first recorded mention of Valentine’s Day as a romantic idea. Chaucer wrote the line in his poem, The Parliament of Birds, in honor of the royal engagement of King Richard II.

You could say Chaucer sparked a tradition that has lasted for more than six centuries. For me, I find it interesting that even in this first mention of the romance of Valentine’s Day, Chaucer chose to associate it with the imagery of birds.

Birds have long been associated with the idea of enduring romance. There’s the cliché that two people in love are “love birds.” And, indeed, comparing loving couples to birds is an apt analogy. Many species of birds form lifelong (or at least long term) pair bonds and go to great lengths to care for each other, as well as their chicks.

Sit in your backyard any spring afternoon and you’ll see this for yourself quickly enough. A good example of a local bird that does this is the Northern cardinal. Put a feeder out and you’ll likely see a bright crimson male taking gifts of food and twigs to his tawny colored mate. They’ll share songs and fly together through the trees. Papa cardinal will help care for the chicks while mama cardinal incubates additional eggs.

They’re simple creatures with seemingly simple goals: find food, build a nest, rear young, celebrate the dawn of a new day with a song. But in watching these backyard birds, one can learn powerful lessons.

They teach us that in order for a relationship to be successful, we must take care of not only ourselves, but our loved ones, as well. Treat all things with patience and diligence. Teamwork makes the job easier to accomplish. And most importantly, don’t get so lost in the daily grind that you forget to take a moment to enjoy the simple blessings in life.

In my own life, I’ve seen such lessons exemplified by the numerous members of my family, from my grandparents, to my siblings, but especially among my parents. This year they will celebrate 43 years of marriage. If you were to ask them what their secret is to a long and happy marriage, they’d tell you God, faith, hard work and humor.

Not so unlike those cardinals, after all, is it?

So, to my parents and to you, our readers, happy Valentine’s Day! And as always, be sure to visit us online at www.portisabelsouthpadre.com.

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