What does Vaentine's Day have to do with writing?  Actually quite a lot.  Finding a call for a love poem submission to a contest, I remembered one I had written years ago, dug it out of my poetry file, and sent it in. Whether or not such contests bring me any rewards, in reviewing that poem and several others in the same vein, I am reminded that they constitute some writing that may be of interest to a publication somewhere.  I will find a market and submit them.  And I am reminded of classic days in school when the number of valentines received was either hidden or bragged about–good material for a story next year.

I was reminded this morning that I am in the dinosaur age of modern communication.  I received an on-line valentine that , I deduce, though from a dear friend, is an advertising vehicle.  Pushing the right buttons to get my "loving" message, I was asked for my cell phone #.  I do not have a cell phone.  Therefore, I could not continue with receiving that Valentine message. 

 I do not want a cell phone and can't imagine when I would need one.  If I am away from my home phone, I am with one friend or another who has this wonderful device for emergency communication.  Most of every day I spend  here in my apartment with my computer, my files, and a phone that seldom rings. E-mail message arrive in multiples and I prefer them to phone conversations as they come to a point and I can respond, delete, or save. And this can be done on MY time.  

So this is probably a Grumpy Valentine?? But today I will attend a local Pecan Festival with friends (who have cell phones, of course) and get a hay ride, reminding me of hay rides on a hay wagon pulled by a team of horses. I do have a "hay" story in my files that needs to go out again to seek its fortune.  I am informed that today's "hay ride" will be without horses, wagons or hay.  It will be worth a story, I'm sure.  Until tomorrow, Willma