Happy love and kindness week!

I drew a heart in the dust on my husband’s truck to celebrate love and kindness week.

Others might fashion more elaborate Valentines, but I doubt any will be more sincere.

The truck earned its grit honestly during some busy, challenging days. I think its passengers did too. I’d like to draw a big, ole heart on all of us.

I’d like to draw one on all of you, too. These are hard days for a lot of people and we could use some love and chocolate.

Valentine’s Day comes at the perfect time of year when the gold-ribboned merriment of the holiday season has faded away and the daffodils and tulips of spring have yet to emerge.

Here in Wisconsin, we’re living in limbo – too cold to play hopscotch, too warm to ride sleds. The ice is too shifty for fishing; the ground is too icy for hoops.

Those park swings hang tantalizingly, but you risk a wet dupah sitting in them and cold hands clinging to their chains.

You could crack a tailbone whipping down those frozen slides.

It’s the perfect season for some things, though, like spreading a little love and kindness.

Neither of those goes dormant, no matter how challenging the season. Each flourishes, in fact, the moment you plant them.

A six-year old I get to pal around with spotted the heart I drew on our truck. I thought he was just pointing to it, but when I looked closer I saw that he had added his own heart and an “I love you” for the driver.

Love grows one by one, two by two and four by four. Loves grows round like a circle and comes back knocking on your front door.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us in this crazy corner house to yours.