Cupids, bears, hearts, flowers and of course eagles symbolize Valentine’s Day. Yes, I said eagles. I believe the eagle is the ultimate Valentine symbol.

Eagles mate for life. They are extremely committed. Courtship begins when the female flies in a circle and the male chases her. She notices his strong beak and takes note of his beautiful feathers, but the real test comes in his ability to face the storms of life, to manage when fate produces it sharpest decline and soar easily to a higher altitude.

The female gets a small leaf and flies to 10,000 feet or so and drops it. He dives at about 200 miles an hour, catches it and takes it back to her. She ignores him. Then she repeats the procedure with a twig and then a bigger branch. The bigger the branch the faster he has to dive. Then she goes to about 500 feet. If he catches this one, she knows he can catch her babies when they fall. She can trust him. She goes on in the courtship. If not, she continues her search for the male with the right attributes to share life in the wild.

Eagles have been known to lock talons and drop toward the earth. Males and females have also been observed with talons locked. The male will not let go. Even if it cost his life, he will not let her go until she releases. He’s there until death do they part. .

He brings her gifts, green twigs. As they nest he has been seen stroking her feathers. He also brings toys to the nest—he says for the kids—cans, tires and balls of all shapes and sizes. Yes the male species has many traits that are universal.

Romance is abundant in Granbury and Glen Rose, especially in February. This year it’s even better. I definitely plan to attend the Hunks of Hood County. The Valentine Special at Rio Brazos Music Hall and Cantina offers an incredible evening at an amazing price. The more I go to the Rio, the more I’m impressed. Lately, I’ve gone every Thursday to enjoy their great tasting burgers at a special price. It’s first class all the way. Take your sweetie to one of the wonderful restaurants in the valley and enjoy the moonlight on the river.

A few years ago, I gave my niece Carly some Bachelor Buttons seeds to plant and told her the old wives tale about how the little round flower helps you find a husband. The wedding pictures on this page are from Carly and David Livenston’s wedding. You will also notice it didn’t take seeds to help Carly find a husbans; like my sister, she is beautiful. And David could catch any branch before it crashes to the ground. Maybe the secret of the Bachelor Button seeds issthat you have to wait a while to find the one just right for you.

I hope you know you are loved this February. There’s a song, written and performed by the Gaithers, from a few decades ago that expresses why I’ve been married for 48 years, “I am loved. I can risk loving you, for the One who knows me best loves me more.” I firmly believe that we can truly love when we know God loves us…know from having experienced His grace. Because Dickey Freeman and I know how much God loves us, we have stayed together through many differences. It’s that and the fact I told him the first year we were married that I do not believe in divorce; but I believe in murder.”

You are loved!

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