Author’s preface

(Bear with me for a couple minutes or just keep scrolling for baby giggles!)

If you checked social media on February 14th, you saw Valentine’s Day boycotters, single-power declarations, sappy appreciation posts, and some showy Valentine’s Day dinner photos.

In this life, I’ve been in all these places and I think they are all necessary. This year, specifically, I think I finally found some warmth for the greeting card holiday because, while I can wholly condemn the bad chocolate it drips with, there is an undeniable silver-lining to the day.

Example A. Don’t think about elephants. What are you thinking about now? Elephants. (And yes, I am loosely quoting Inception.)

Maybe I am finally old enough to truly appreciate the power of holidays. And marketing. And how compelling symbolism is.

What I’m saying is: I am kinda liking one day dedicated to putting hearts on everyone’s mind.

Today I encountered so many people taking the time to greet one another! Big, supportive energy was being shared between singles in my friend circles and clerks at Whole Foods were wishing everyone a happy holiday.

These shining moments brought me back to elementary school where we handmade valentines to give to one another. C’mon, I wasn’t giving them out exclusively to score honey. You know we rained those construction paper dreams down upon our classmates, our crushes, perfect strangers, and our especially our mamas.

How nice it was to be nice and to smile as we handed over things that glittered.

That’s what sports, elections, and holidays do— they get strangers interacting. If we can rally around chili (mark your calendars!) then why not just get a down with some sweetness? With a single heart or with a sweetheart we are absolutely equipped to appreciate the confounding but comforting role love plays in our lives.

And less talking from behind screens and more in-person connection is the vitamin I wish we all took daily.

So, this year, I am sticking with this new, less-Grinchy feeling about the 14th. This day primed us to get a little squishier with our interactions. And in the thick of February’s frostiness, we. needed. that.

P.S. If you gave your partner a Valentine’s Day gift that results in you losing a lot of sleep after November 14th, 2019, give me a call. I clearly love photographing your babies.