Won’t You Be My Valentine?
Why the spirit of Valentine’s Day should spill over into our everyday lives.
National President
Jon Walker, F268778
jwalker@fmca.com
February always reminds me of the Valentine’s Day when I was in the third grade sitting in Mrs. Phillips’ class. We made little boxes and taped them to the back of our chairs. When no one was watching, I sneaked over to the desk of one of the classmates I liked and placed a little Valentine card (the ones you punched out of a sheet of heavy paper) in her box. That was a long, long time ago, but I still remember it as though it were yesterday. As a child, I always worried that no one would give me a Valentine. . . . Won’t you be my Valentine?
Today, some 60 years later, I still think about those days when I was young and so innocent. . . . Won’t someone give me a Valentine?
When my mother died in 1991, she was 67 years old. When going through her personal things, I found a very old Valentine’s Day card in her upper dresser drawer. It was to her from me when I was 6 years old. It had a handwritten message inside that said, “I love you mommy, from Jon, six years old.” It was written in pencil in my rough, printed words.
She never ever talked with me about saving that card, which was over 44 years old when I found it. During those 67 years that Mom was alive, I don’t think I ever really told her how much I truly loved her. I really regret that. . . . Won’t you be my Valentine?
When my wife, Sondra, and I sold our big house in Elkhart, Indiana, and moved to our little cottage on the lake, we had to go through our belongings and throw away things that would not fit into our smaller space. As I was cleaning out my dresser drawers, I found several Valentine’s cards from my son and my daughter, as well as from my grandchildren, when they were about 5 or 6 years old. I still have those cards, and now they are in my dresser drawer here at the lake. I wonder what my kids will say or think someday when they have the task of going through my dresser? . . . Won’t you be my Valentine?
Sondra and I are watching a TV series called “Heartland.” It is the story of a small, struggling family living on a ranch in a beautiful, mountainous part of Canada. The grandfather lost his daughter in a tragic accident involving his youngest granddaughter, who was seriously injured. Now, he is trying to rear his two granddaughters, and it seems none of them can really open up and talk about their true love for each other.
I think many of us fall into this same category. We love our spouses and family members, but for some unknown reason, we are hesitant to simply tell them how much we love them. I know I am that way.
A couple of weeks ago, Sondra was in Ireland with her sister. I moped around for a week, worried about her and her trip. I kept thinking about her and all of the things I wish I had told her before she left. . . . Won’t you be my Valentine?
We have met many friends during our journey with FMCA. The one person who stands out in my mind as always encouraging me to verbally “love thy neighbor” is Bill Rogiers. In all the years we have known “Big Bill” and his lovely wife, Clara, he has always come up to me, hugged me, and told me that the Lord loves me and so does he! Many times, he would also give me a yellow smiley face sticker to put on my shirt or coat.
Everything out of Bill’s mouth is positive and cheerful. We received a Christmas card from them this past December. He told me that he loved me and that he was keeping me in his prayers daily. Bill is 84 years old and still is volunteering as a crossing guard at a school in Moline, Illinois, something he’s been doing now for more than 10 years. He tells me he loves the kids and that this volunteer work keeps him young. He and Clara no longer have a motorhome, but they still go to Florida in the winter and get to see their FMCA friends when they are there. . . . Won’t you be my Valentine?
Another FMCA friend of mine has the uncanny habit of coming up to me and smiling when I really seem to need it. He offers me one of his Lifesavers mints. I cherish his smile and positive attitude. Thank you, John Traphagen, for your ongoing kindness!
As we continue to live the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy as RVers, let us remember that it truly is all about having fun. And, by the way . . . Won’t you be my Valentine?
FMCA Convention Dates
Registration currently is under way for FMCA’s 101st International Convention and RV Expo, set to take place March 26 through 29, 2020, at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. If you haven’t already signed up, head on over to FMCA.com and register, or call the FMCA national office at (800) 543-3622 or (513) 474-3622. The registration form appears on page 65 of this issue. (PLEASE NOTE: Because of concerns over the escalating COVID-19 virus, FMCA’s 101st International Convention and RV Expo, scheduled for March 26-29, 2020, has been cancelled.)
We’re happy to announce that FMCA’s 102nd International Convention and RV Expo will take place in a state not yet on the list of those that have hosted a convention. We’ll gather at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, August 26 through 29, 2020.
“The Lancaster Event Center is a nationally recognized facility that has five interconnected buildings set on 160 acres. That will give us plenty of room for RV parking, seminars, indoor and outdoor exhibits, and all of the other activities associated with an FMCA event,” said Doug Uhlenbrock, FMCA events director. “Plus, Lincoln is a vibrant capital city, and RV families and exhibitors will be able to explore all that it and the surrounding area have to offer.”
Registration for the Nebraska convention will begin on February 26, 2020. The registration form appears on page 81 of this issue.
Looking beyond 2020, FMCA has set dates and locations for other upcoming events as follows:
*103rd International Convention and RV Expo, Georgia National Fairgrounds, Perry, Georgia, March 10 through 13, 2021
*104th International Convention and RV Expo, Cam-Plex Multi-Event Facilities, Gillette, Wyoming, July 7 through 10, 2021
*107th International Convention and RV Expo, Georgia National Fairgrounds, Perry, Georgia, March 15 through 18, 2023.
*110th International Convention and RV Expo, Cam-Plex Multi-Event Facilities, Gillette, Wyoming, July 17 through 20, 2024
*116th International Convention and RV Expo, Cam-Plex Multi-Event Facilities, Gillette, Wyoming, July 14 through 17, 2027
More dates and locations will be added as plans progress.