Happy Valentine's Day from Hawaii

Valentine's arrangement, including protea

It wasn't exactly "when I'm not near the one I love, I love the one I'm near," but I was 2,387 miles from home on Valentine's Day. So I bought flowers and peanut brittle for those whom I was near.

Disdaining the ready-made Valentine's Day arrangements, I purchased the flowers, vases, and candy from separate stores. One can get the recipients' favorite items at lower cost provided that there was enough time. There were no urgent appointments on the calendar.

The recipients were properly appreciative, and I had the opportunity to chat with them at length. For the first time in a long time I could stop and smell the roses.