Love: Never Allow It to Be Banal or Boring
Ah yes, Valentine’s Day … love, amour, romance
… all those banal words for an emotion that is far from boring.
Since the 14th century, St. Valentine’s Day has embodied the intricacies of romantic love. With the
commercialism of every holiday, though, many of us have become cynical and
unfeeling. Most especially for Valentine’s Day.
I listen to the comments of longtime couples
and married folks—so often hearing, “Oh, we don’t do Valentine’s Day.” It’s a
good bet they did, once upon a romantic time in their relationship. At least a
cursory acknowledgment with token chocolates.
While most of us agree, spending lavishly on
Valentine’s Day—a day that for most has lost its religious meaning—is waste of good dollars. It no longer holds the fun and
mystique of hidden presents and spontaneous declarations of love.
‘Tis true—IF—you strive throughout the year to
show your loved one(s) how much they’re appreciated. But if you need a
reminder, or simply like to give an extra twinkle to the eye of your beloved,
without breaking the bank, here’s a fun, very affordable suggestion: create a
Roman Bath for the two of you …
CALDARIUM (kal derʹē ɘm) n. – in ancient Roman baths, a room for
taking hot baths. [WW #151]
So what does a hot bath have to do with
Valentine’s Day? Although a true caldarium is more like a sweat-box with super-hot water, we can re-invent it to accommodate a hot, steamy
Valentine’s Day bath, a modified caldarium, complete with scented
oils for your bodies and aromatic candles for ambiance. Um, oh, don’t forget
the deep red wine, or sparkling cider. Scrub-a-dub-dub to your heart’s content!
However, some time ago it became clear to me
that I loved the romance of love … but I was terrible at the reality of it.
That makes caldarium the perfect Valentine’s Day action word for us
singles. Remember, you need to love yourself before you can love others. So …
Take your champagne to the new-and-improved caldarium,
close your eyes, and enjoy the day’s quixotic aura. A “romantic” bath with
candles and a book, or simply your thoughts … is a great start to the rest of
your life.
A little wistful imagination can convert the
most boring bath into a dreamy form of caldarium. What are you waiting for?
Word Challenge: CALDARIUM. Declare your love to
all of the special people in your life, including yourself, as you fit caldarium into your week of love-kissed writings.
Write first for
yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle)
E-N-D
Quick and Quirky Wordplay 
A fine word for a cute little animal. But describing
a person in conversation or descriptive writings ... when hairy or furry is a
little indelicate and unpleasant … pileous is so much more subtle and likeable.
Choose your words wisely! 
