Valentine's Bouquet

All yesterday, and all last night, it snowed in New York. The soft, drifting kind of snow that falls steadily until the sidewalks, windshields, and window ledges are covered, while pedestrians plod home with a bottle tucked under an arm to eat something warm, talk to someone they love, and turn in early with a book.

At least, it was that kind of snow until the snow turned to rain. The kind of rain that turns the sidewalk into a treacherous slick of ice, hits your face in cold pellets and makes you shake your fist at the sky wondering why you bothered to get out of bed at all.

Given the slushy circumstances, this bouquet seems downright absurd, what with its defiant cheeriness and candy colors. But, after seeing this clever use of candy decorations, my desire to put one of these bouquets together for Valentine's Day overcame me.

And truly, isn't that what Valentine's is about? The day of saint Valentine, as far as I'm concerned, is in cahoots with Christmas, Winter Solstice, Chinese New Year, Hanukkah, and all the other winter festivals of light that promote warmth, community, and hope in the darkest season. Say it's Hallmark, if you like. I say Valentine's Day is just another example of the human instinct to surround ourselves with flowers, bite into something sweet, and get close to another human body in the bitterest month of all.



Valentine's Bouquet

1 short, squat glass (like for a few glugs of scotch)
1 short, narrow glass (like for juice -- you can usually find these in junk shops)
conversation hearts
flowers
scissors

Arrange the flowers in your short, narrow glass filled about halfway with water. Place the flower-filled glass inside the wider glass. Scatter the conversation hearts in the inner space between the two glasses. Marvel how times have changed with hearts emblazoned "IM Me." Place at your bedside or on the desk of someone you fancy, and wait for the sun to come out.