by Telly G. Ocampo
Poems, songs, scents, and roses on Valentine’s Day
Three more years from now and I will be an octogenarian. I’m just wondering how the millenials of today spend their Valentine’s Day. For as long as they have the money, everything will be at their call and beckon: places, food, scents, flowers galore, etc.
This is contrary to our times. I belong to that generation of the transistor radio and the transistor radio generation was in cloud nine when we would receive dedications of love songs through the air waves. My editor and bff, Ardy, started young in broadcasting. She owns that beautiful voice on radio and she always glued us to her radio program of love songs and love notes.
So for this today, 2 days before Valentine’s Day, please walk with us down memory lane and savour, once again, the romance OUR day.
We did not have dates, then. Most of my friends did not have boyfriends in those days. We had a pact that we would only entertain boyfriends when we were already graduating in college. I think the pact was the same for the boys. How could they afford to go on dates when they only had their monthly allowance?
So, during OUR TIME, one was fortunate if he/she had the transistor radio. Just imagine, hearing, once again, my bff Ardy reciting on the airwaves the poem of Rolando Carbonel: “Beyond Forgetting”!
My high school classmate who is now in the U.S.A.
forwarded to us the old love songs of Johnny Mathis. We consider him as the man with the most soothing voice and with words of love that would leave beautiful imprints in our hearts. I feel grateful today that my husband left me some music soothing to the soul.
Most of us still remember songs from the days of our youth. One of my favorites is entitled “The Twelfth of Never”. Another one is “Till”.
‘Til the moon deserts the sky, ‘Tll all the seas run dry,
‘Tll then I worship you.
‘Til the tropic sun grows cold, ‘Tll this young world grows old, My darling I adore you!
You are my reason to live. All I own I would give.
Just to have you adore me.
‘Tll the rivers flow upstream. ‘Tll lovers cease to dream.
‘Tll then I’m yours be mine.
This song, “Till” brings me back to the time when my waistline was at 24; when you would find me dancing in my flowing balloon skirt – in pink yellow or blue – in the arms of the man who became my husband. The fashion icon then was Audrey Hepburn.
The Twelfth of Never is not to be danced but to be savoured the Johny Mathis way. One of the stanzas runs this way:
You ask how much I need you, must I explain?
I need you. oh my darling, as roses need rain.
You ask how long I’ll love you, I’ll tell you true;
Until the twelveth of never, I’ll still be loving you.
Hold me close. Never let me go.
Hold me close, melt my heart like the April snow.
The Department stores in the 60’s were slowly evolving. Small gift items – and imported at that – were already available. Perfumes like Avon in beautiful pastel containers were the vogue, then. They became popular gift items like Yardley in English lavender, soap in small boxes ready for wrapping and depending on the occasion. Fans, embroidered handkerchiefs, and old spice – the favored gift for men: these were some of the things to give on Valentine’s Day – during my time. And don’t ever forget the red roses.
How about the celebration of today? Happy Valentine’s Day to the youth of today. In the sunset years of your life, those momentous events become part of your treasured memories. Keep all those in your treasure chest.
Happy Heart’s Day, one and all!