Happy Valentine's Day from LOVEland!

This is a bit of a re-wind from last year, with appropriate changes.

Way back in 1946 an idea came to Postmaster Elmer Ivers, Chamber of Commerce President Ted W. Thompson, and his wife Mabel. They had a vision - a vision to share the romantic name of our town of Loveland with the whole world.

So it came to pass, in the February of 1947 the Loveland Valentine Remailing Program was born. Since 1947, literally millions of valentines have touched the heart strings of loved ones with Cupid's message hand stamped and remailed from Loveland, Colorado.

Since 1962 a high school senior girl has been chosen to represent the program and the city as "Miss Loveland Valentine". Personal appearances representing the City of Loveland take this ambassador around the state of Colorado. An appearance at the Colorado State Legislature and a personal visit with the Governor are just two of the highlights in her busy schedule.

In 1964, a specially designed Valentine card was produced to offset some of the expenses of this costly program, and the Official Loveland Valentine's Cards continue to touch the hearts of people around throughout the world. Loveland Valentines can be purchased through the Chamber of Commerce , from their Official Loveland Valentine web site, or through any of the participating Chamber merchants. Every year there is a contest for the card's design, for the message on the inside, and the cachet that is stamped on the envelope. Here is this year's winner, front cover, inside message, and the cachet on the envelope:

Heart-shaped messages on the light posts around town can be purchased by anyone who wants to leave a very public "heartfelt" message to someone they love. It's fun and a bit corny, but is the "heart" and soul of town. It does represent somewhat of a hazard as you drive and try to read the messages!

Loveland's "Valentine Sweethearts", Ted and Mabel Thompson have now passed away. The Loveland community feels their absence. To commemorate their vision and love of Loveland, their memory lives on through the annual Valentine Remailing Program. A bronze relief of the Thompsons is featured in Thompson Park on 4th Street in Loveland. (portions copied from the Loveland Daily Report Herald).

An average of 200,000 letters are stamped each year with the cachet and with the postmark from LOVEland. I read that Oprah even sent her cards here one year for the Valentine cachet. People from 110 countries send their cards here for remailing. The valentine program is so popular that there is a volunteer waiting list of 45 people.



And now for the announcement of the winner of the book by Marilyn Meberg, What to Do When the Roof Caves In. Our friend, Miss Pea, is the winner. I'll look forward to hearing what she thinks of it. So, Pea, just send me your mailing address and I'll get it to you.

Valentine's Day, oddly enough, has been overshadowed in our family ever since Kevin was born on the 13th in 1977. Happy 33rd Birthday Saturday, my dear son.

So Many Books, So Little Time!

As anyone who has read me very long knows, I love to read. I rarely buy a book - the library and I have a very close relationship!

Mostly these days I read while I'm on the elliptical, the recumbent bike, and the treadmill at the gym. It's a great way to multitask. I decided to share a few of the books I've read lately.

I read a slew of Christmas books this year - really fun. They were by Debbie Macomber, Jennifer Chiaverini, and Donna Van Liere. I've caught up with the latest books from my favorite authors - Sue Grafton, Faye Kellerman, J.A. Jance.

The above book, Where Hope Begins, was disturbing, but good. I can't say enjoyable, but worth reading. I saw the family on Dr. Phil and wanted to know more about their story. I hadn't heard of the situation before the show - it is about the Wesson family - Marcus Wesson, the cultish leader of his very large family, the murders he committed against them, and the long journey to hope by the survivors as chronicled by the television journalist who invited them to live with her.

Beautiful Boy was equally difficult to read, but well written and important. David Sheff wrote about his son, Nick's, struggle with meth addiction. It is a subject near to my heart, and I always hope to read a success story. This one doesn't really qualify. But it is a good book.

Lynn Austin is a new favorite - she has written so many books that it'll take me a long time to get through them all. Though Waters Roar is her latest, and it is wonderful. She weaves a fantastic tale in each book, and this one begs for a sequel! It follows 3 generations of women who involve themselves in important social issues, with the 4th generation finally beginning to figure out what her life should be all about. I loved it, and hated to come to the last page.

I saw Josie's Story reviewed, probably in People Magazine, and it intrigued me. Sorrel King has made a huge contribution which came out of an incredibly sad family disaster. She took on the medical industry and its lack of communication, which led to the loss of Josie. Again, it is a sad, but very worthwhile, redemptive read.

If you've read Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, you know that anything he writes is worth your time. Have a Little Faith will not disappoint. Mitch had left his faith back in his childhood, but came face to face with both a rabbi and an evangelical in a book that will lift you and challenge you.



As promised, this is my 500th post and I want to offer another book - this is one of the five I bought at Women of Faith last fall. This one is written by Marilyn Meberg, a psychologist who has been a widow for a long time, and delights WOF crowds every year. What to Do When the Roof Caves In covers such subjects as "Money Cave-in," Infidelity Cave-in," "Pleasure, Addiction, and Our Roofs," "Death, the Ultimate Cave-in," "Heaven, No More Cave-ins," and several others.

Just leave a comment, indicating your interest, and I will draw the winner on Friday, the 12th.