Valentine’s Day is six days away, and our Valentine’s teddy bears have come downstairs to sit by the fireplace with hopes that we will share our chocolate candy with them.

Valerie is the matriarch of The Bears and has been featured in several of my blogs. My late husband brought her home to me thirty-five years ago on our first Valentine’s Day together. Now my Walter has adopted her. Valerie welcomes the new additions to The Bear family and holds quarterly meetings to remind all bears of the household rules and guides them while planning the next birthday party or holiday celebration. Everyone looks up to her and follows her wise guidance. She is married to P. Bradley, and they adopted Lacey three years ago.

Speaking of P. Bradley, last year I visited an ophthalmologist for an eye exam. His name is Dr. Bradley. When Walter and I pulled up to the front door of his office, Walter said, “His first name is Patrick! P. Bradley! It’s a sign that he will take good care of you.”    

When I met Walter, I introduced him to my teddy bear collection. At first, I’m sure he thought I was a bit eccentric, but he accepted The Bears and began creating stories about each one of them. We now have at least 100 bears and other stuffed babies, and Walter still surprises me with a new bear every Valentine’s Day, already named with a background story to tell.

One snowy day not long after Walter and I started dating, he asked me if I wanted to go for a ride to take pictures. I was so excited since I wouldn’t drive in the snow, but I knew dazzling winter scenery was out there waiting to be photographed. We bundled up in hats and boots for the adventure. But before we left, he asked if I wanted to take one of my bears with us for the drive. At first, I wasn’t sure I heard him right. But he was serious, and he grabbed Valerie to go with us.

I wrapped her up in warm clothes, including striped socks on her feet, a tasseled knit cap on her head, and a red scarf around her shoulders for the winter drive. She rode in the back seat of his SUV as Walter took us for a ride up Bent Mountain. A light snow was falling, and the scenery was glistening white and magical. We stopped to take photos along the way, and I was in heaven.

When we got back to Roanoke, Walter pulled off the street into Fishburn Park and took Valerie out of the vehicle. He positioned her on the hood of his car, and I took her picture all bundled up for the snowy day. She did look mighty cute. And then we had to take more pictures of her climbing a tree. I laughed so hard that tears froze on my cheeks. What a silly man.

After the folly at the park, we went to Fresh Market to get a hot cup of coffee. To my surprise, Walter took Valerie into the store with us and set her in the seat of the shopping cart. She especially liked the bakery and chose a chocolate cupcake covered with sprinkles to take home with her. I was glad few people were in the store on this snowy day, but we still got a couple of snickers and stares. When we got to the cash register, he introduced Valerie to the cashier and asked, “Would you mind holding her for a photograph?”

The young man said, “No. Not at all.” And he grabbed the bear for a portrait.

You may think we have lost our minds, and Walter will die if any of his macho friends read this, but the day was a blast. Valerie tells this story to The Bears at least once a year. It was certainly a day to remember.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my readers. I hope you get a new teddy bear to hug and a big box of chocolates to share on this romantic holiday.