Lexington, KY - February is pretty much a no-count when it comes to months. It's grey, it's cold and it's anti-climatic after the hopes of the New Year fade into routine. But at least it's short. It's no wonder Valentine's Day was able to flourish during such a dreary time - there's no competition.
Do you remember what Valentine's Day was like when you were in grade school? For me, all the kids would spend a little class time crafting a mailbox for our desk, and later we would wander around the room stuffing each container with store-bought cards, which were often illustrated with a cast of characters from popular cartoon series. I remember fretting in the makeshift holiday aisles at the grocery store the night before, trying to find the set that best enunciated my feelings. Looney Tunes? The Flintstones? No, this year Scooby Doo will be my cupid. Watch out ladies, Romeo and Shaggy are a-courting.
We had to give a card to everybody, even to the boys. Even to the girl who chewed on her hair during class. I would rack my brains trying to properly match cards with classmates. "You're sweeter than Scooby Snacks" -
that one is definitely going to Nancy Carter, I'm sweet on her. "Rou're Roovy, Valentine" - that's going to Josh Blagg, he's a cool dude.
But once middle school rolled around, you were on your own. No more desktop mailboxes, no more obligatory cards. Things were serious now -
the Beta Club was sponsoring an annual Valentine sale. The setup was scandalous. You'd buy some trinket and then write a note to the recipient, if you wanted, which somebody from the club would deliver for you -
no questions asked, anonymity guaranteed. The note also had instructions to go to the Home Ec. room to claim your token of affection. I was standing next to my locker talking to my buddy Paul when a Beta officer handed me a note: "Jessica Chapman thinks you're dreamy. She has a carnation for you in Room 118."
I had two questions for Paul -
Who is Jessica Chapman and why is she trying to give me an instant breakfast drink?
It turned out that a carnation was also a flower and Jessica Chapman was rather dreamy herself, in a seventh grader kind of way.
In this issue, we've forgone any sappy, lovey-dovey features and stuck with the theme many people are still concerned with this time of the year: health and fitness. Editor Saraya Brewer has turned in an intriguing look at local midwives, the women who opt for their care, and the different designations and challenges the caregivers face. Our fitness columnist, Sheila Kalas, a personal trainer for over 20 years and the owner of Fitness Plus here in Lexington, offers an interesting retrospective on her profession and its evolution over the past two decades. Personal training has had a symbiotic relationship with clients' hopes and expectations, and Sheila's perspective from the front line is insightful and informative. We also introduce readers to four local fitness professionals who offer viable, and entertaining, options to getting and staying in shape, without ever having to step on a treadmill or pick up a dumbbell. We look at yoga, zumba, martial arts and Teresa Tomb's belly dancing courses at Mecca: A Live Studio and Gallery.
Aside from belly dancing classes, Teresa is also offering a special workshop this month on enticement dances, in case you wanted to give your Valentine honey something they won't forget this year -
in case they run out of carnations at the grocery store.