Conversation Hearts, Part Five

KISS ME
TRUE LOVE
I'M SURE
I LOVE YOU

These are the phrases left after plumbing the box of chalky treats for the previous parts of this five-part series. And I am unable to sugarcoat it, the reality is that they all apply to this final installment, so leading off with them seems the right thing to do. Other phrases also apply, but sadly are not found in the traditional 10-cent package. If they did I would buy them and feed my snarky self with sweet nothings like IRONY AND PITY and EFF THIS NOISE and my personal faves, REALLY????

Although barely a toddler, baby new year aught-eleven is swaddled with a motto sash that reads FD11 in the world according to Claire. This stands not for every city's finest but for Full Disclosure Eleven. This super-secret blog is of course all about the FD no matter what the season, and I think it has helped shape the course of true love as it runs smooth or otherwise. So in the interest of FD11 and the SSB, it needs pointing out that even when you pass Go and collect your $200, you may just roll yourself some snake eyes one too many times and find yourself not on Boardwalk but back in Jail.

FD V-Day 11. As aforementioned, the day of hearts and flowers has really never been what we'd call a smashing success for Claire. I think the latter years are best summed up with a poem that goes "roses and red, violets are blue, it's valentine's day, so Claire, fuck you."

Pretty boo-worthy. And this year everything is different, yet somehow February 14 in FD11 is not different, and I am old enough, I am wise enough, I am me enough to find that fact simply hi-larious. I began this particular series of heart attacks because I knew that this year would not be different, despite all evidence to the contrary. All four hearts consumed left more than enough room for channel #5. This particular entry should be chock-full of nasty, because for once in my life I am all blinded Stevie-style, but someone else has decided to take away my piano so I am not allowed to tickle the ivories. This was to be the definition of all is fair in love and war. The pen-ultimate rage against the machine. A piece-de-resistance that was going to skewer our first landlords for their single-minded ids while we struggled beneath the weight of our generational sub-prime superego.

But for better or for worse, at present the exercise I have enjoyed as I ran down memory lane the past few days has tired me out. And as I curl up to rest, on my own, I know with diamond-bright precocity that I am healthy and I am happy and I am whole, and I love a lot, and I am loved a lot. And really there is nothing of material gain nor showy affectations that can change that, and that is an awfully amazing Valentine to myself, so thanks, self. Let's go hang out on Park Place, shall we?

And for everything and everyone else, there's McCartney-Lennon, and they especially want to give a shout-out to a certain someone who may or may not be paying attention. Doesn't matter really either way. Love you....mean it. Happy Valentine Heart's Day.

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more