Hallmark Holiday Vs. Authentic Love

Valentine's Day elicits mixed emotions from me -- it's a holiday "lite" that seems more an opportunity for retailers to sell flowers and chocolates than the remembrance of a Christian saint who sacrificed himself in prison for the love of other Christians who wanted him to marry them.

Be that as it may, I went along with the schmaltzy spirit of things when friends invited us to a Valentine's dinner and music event at a Tuscan-style home at a gated community in Scottsdale. Eliza, whose mother is originally from Panama, is a member of a Latino social group in Scottsdale that hosted the Italian-themed event. After wine and a gourmet meal, a local guitarist dubbed "Riccardo" explained the lyrics of Italian pop love songs prior to playing them to a salon of about 50 listeners. Then an authentic Italian pianist played and sang with no explanation, la bella lingua doing its work. (Image from holy card on website of St. Valentine Church in Bethel, PA.)

In spite of its slight artificiality, we enjoyed a lovely evening with a touch of romance. When a woman from Guatemala told me that she'd never heard of Valentine's Day until she moved to the United States -- and felt it was charming -- I decided not to take the flowers and conversation hearts for granted anymore.

Although, in true Latin style, the attendees kept coming late into the evening, we called it a night at 11 p.m. and walked arm in arm to the car.