I must have been no older than six. Maybe, seven. I got up, ready for another yummy bowl of oatmeal and a glass of orange juice. Milk, of course, too. And there it was. It had my name on it. Four words: Happy Valentine’s Day, Cam. Now, I had heard about this Valentine’s Day. I caught the pair of words — Valentine’s Day — at the end of some television commercial and in the newspaper, the pages Mom would lay down near the backdoor to make sure the mud and snow wouldn’t seep to the kitchen floor. It was during infancy and had lots to learn, to feel, to … be engaged with one of the year’s greatest days. I loved learning the curriculum, the history, and of course, the — forgive me for selecting such a strong word — sacraments. Because, to me, they are.

Valentine’s Day has helped me become the hopeless romantic that I am. My Valentine’s Day dance date — awe … Tracy: long flowing red hair, who gave me my first meaningful card — not to even suggest Mom and Dad’s Valentine cards weren’t. Not at all. But Tracy’s card — and, I still remember — said, “Valentine, I must admit, I think of you more than a bit.” I could go on, and on, and … on about the Valentine’s Day dinners, games, songs and everything else I have planned. In fact, my wife and I wanted to have our wedding on Valentine’s Day 1996. We were given advice — strong wisdom, really — many out-of-town guests wouldn’t attend because it was in the middle of the week.

In contemplating this month’s offering for this space and my love for Valentine’s Day, I remembered some of my romantic adventures: renting a stretch limo, picking my date up, swinging into a drive-thru McDonald’s for a Big Mac and fries … and then going to one of Edmonton’s most romantic dining rooms and sharing not one, but two bottles of Chateau Palmer. But enough of my memory-lane stroll. Let’s get to work.

I invite you to consider the following: a Valentine’s Day Card, David Foster Foundation style. Valentine’s Day is based on perhaps the greatest four-letter word we have.

Love.

There are, of course, various forms of love, and Valentine’s Day circles around, first and foremost, romantic love which makes our hearts go pitter-patter when we think of that out-of-this-world person, who rocks our world. But there’s a platonic love between two people, even if one, or both, are spoken for. For example, I suggested to one of my very best friends recently that he give his wife a hockey game ticket, including full press credentials, to which he said: “Why don’t you give it to her yourself?” And that boldly underlines a feeling I find as I am getting older: telling people I love them and then having it returned to me is happening profoundly on a daily basis…often many times a day.

Of note, I was raised in a most loving family. Yet, seldom – in fact, mostly during times of disappointment and poor health – did my parents say they loved me. The greeting was uncomfortable, and when other people told me they loved me, I was embarrassed. But I realize that Love can mean many things. Love means millions of actions can be carried out by all of us.

To care.
To encourage.
To hope.
To sign an organ donor card, so the David Foster Foundation can assist more families with children in need of an organ transplant.

Valentine’s Day, David Foster Foundation Style. It even comes with a card. How about that? And here’s the greatest part: you don’t have to wait until February 14 to give this special Valentine’s Day Card.