Early Giving
Instead of waiting to hand out 600 or more valentines on Friday the 14th, I decided to spread our 14 Words For Love throughout the week. Some of you have asked me about distribution (is there a plan? is there a certain way to give out poems?)... all good questions whose answers are all about what works for you. Yesterday I dropped off a batch of 14-word valentines for my friend Sheila, who sends cards to soldiers all year long. While I was out, I dropped off a handful at my local P.O. along with bakery treats (Lloyd, Rosemary and Angela are the BEST). Then I drove to WUNC radio where Gurnal Scott buzzed me in to drop off 30-40 valentines for the staff. Today, I'll drop some by a local hospital.
It's nice to get treats from someone on Valentine's Day. To be a special someone. But if you look at love through a wider lens, you might see Lloyd behind the post office counter, supremely patient, kind and always helpful. You might see Keisha, not that you've ever said more than hello to her before she takes your order, but you spotted her last weekend with an infant and toddler, waiting for a bus. You might see the line outside Durham Rescue Mission, not just on Christmas Eve, and think about the volunteer cooks inside and those outside in line, backs to a January wind.