ThirstyFish

In New York City, recycling bins come in two colors; green for newspapers and magazines, and blue for bottles and cans. Well, on Valentine's Day last Tuesday, I stumbled upon this scene, walked backed to my car, picked up my camera and tripod, and took this shot. I guess you can't recycle a heart?

We owe Valentine's Day to Geoffrey Chaucer who first associated the day with romantic love. Two martyred saints, Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni, are honored on February 14. In 1382, Chaucer wrote: "For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate". (In England, mid-February is an unlikely time for birds to be mating!)

In the 15th Century, lovers began to express their love for each other by sending greeting cards known as valentines. And, by the second half of twentieth century, Valentine's Day had became a hallmark holiday, promoted by the likes of floral, chocolate and diamond industries.

Some criticize Valentine's Day as being too commercial, unimaginative, or even as an example of forced romance. Others view it as a sad reminder of their loneliness. Many nonchristians see it as cultural contamination from the West. In some countries, people are arrested for celebrating it. Despite all of that, Valentine's Day is steadily becoming a globally celebrated occasion.

This post was not meant to take on a sarcastic or cynical tone... To compensate, here's one from the Poet of the Heart: "The Lovers will drink wine night and day. They will drink until they can tear away the veils of intellect and melt away the layers of shame and modesty. When in Love, body, mind, heart and soul don't even exist. Become this, fall in Love, and you will not be separated again". *

Song of the Day: Lonely Avenue - Ray Charles (1956)