AN EXTRA VALENTINE

I can hear you worrying right now, "How do I get in a warm fuzzy mood for Valentine's Day when there's so much bad stuff going on?"

I know. With a deranged astronaut in diapers, Microsoft's Windows Vista release and the untimely demise of Anna Nicole, it's been a rough month -- already. Who feels like celebrating?

But here's the thing we can't forget: Love is the answer, the only way we can rescue  ourselves and the big, spinning orb that we're all trying to hold on to. Therefore, we must EXPAND the Feb. 14 festivities, rather than cutting back.

Here's my suggestion: Give a valentine to a stranger. Yep. While you're sending email valentines, while you're shopping for someone special, plan a valentine for someone you don't know. It can be simply a heart drawn and "Happy Valentine's Day" written on a piece of paper.

It's easy. Make it, put it in your pocket, walk down the street and give it away. You might even hand out more than one. If you want.

Let me know how that works for you.

(c) Copyright Jane Allen. 2007. All rights reserved. U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1534-178X.