A Take What You Need Valentines Day.

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What feels like a lifetime ago the Child and I lolloped through OAKtown taping signs up everywhere.

We barely knew the city back then–let alone the many Oakland people we came to adore.

In a way, with hindsight, we spread the love more for *ourselves* than for those who might discover it.

In the same manner volunteering provides a helper’s high the opportunity to image others gleaning what they “needed” from our posters made us feel better about not being where we longed to be.

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we were new Californians back then.

We created our signs, we took ’em to the streets, and we taped.

On poles .

On fences.

On trash cans.

On benches.

We left our offerings everywhere.

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And we experienced love.

The other afternoon, as the Child and I chatted on our walk home from school, she asked what we’d do for Valentines day.

I didn’t make any plans, I told her. It’s a school day though so I bet you’ll have a party!

She looked disappointed (crestfallen is more the word but that feels heavy-handed) for a moment and shared how she’d always wished we had a tradition.

Tradition.

Like the misfit I am, I spent the rest of my day singing and pondering.

I knew, as with our beloved Tevye, tradition played a large role in most everything we do.

We have nightly traditions (our prayers), holiday traditions (foods to familial bonding), and newly-created-as-she-grows-up traditions (which I wont divulge here).

These rituals are significant.

They create positive feelings, familial closeness, and serve as a non-verbal way for me to convey my values/what’s important to me.

I’d never experienced a desire for a Valentine’s Day Tradition, yet it quickly became clear what we could do.

What we should do.

Tomorrow, the day of “love” so many love-to-HATE, we’re taking our affections to the Austin streets.

Taping, posting, hiding and watching what transpires, and–for those of you who fretted last time—returning later to procure our papers & promptly recycling.

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Red in honor of the day.

Created by in abundance by the Child in honor of her declaring we needed tradition.

Comments are open, but we’d both prefer you skip yer comment, make even a single T.W.Y.N. Day flyer and spread the love in *your* hood!

 

 

I spied the Take What You Need image on instagram. I’ve no idea who originally created the concept.

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Comments

  1. I loved these the first time around and love them even more now since it’s so appropriate for this holiday! I honestly have not taken Valentine’s Day seriously since high school but my boys adore it and even *gulp* made special gifts for two girls in their classes. I definitely need the COURAGE tickets please!

  7. What a terrific idea! I am always in awe of your parenting insights and style. I can’t wait to see the amazing things that your daughter is sure to experience as she grows up. She’s going to grow up and become an amazingly grounded, loving, and smart young woman because of the things that you instill in her now.

  10. Wait, did people really worry about the environmental impact? There’s one upside to doing away with those regulations. 🙂

    Love this idea. Not sure I’m brazen enough to put one up at work but …

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