What is it like to live in the LAND OF LOVE? I'm glad you asked. Picture the scene from the old television show Cheers as you enter your favorite restaurant. It's where everyone knows your name and sends you a happy smile when you enter. The bells chime every hour on the hour. You get random high-fives and encouragement spouted from runners and walkers on the local trail. You feel welcomed. You feel LOVED.
Not only is this town quaint, it's steeped in tradition. Penned as LOVELAND, our favorite holiday is hands-down, Valentines Day. In fact, each year, thousands of Valentines are re-routed through our town to be stamped in the land of love. Guess who does the stamping? The Loveland Valentine lady, of course! Nestled right up there with Santa at Christmas or the Easter bunny for Easter, the Loveland Valentine lady is our town's heralded champion. It's a sought after position that represents our town by spreading lovingkindness to the community.
..and guess what is on my bucket list? To be the epitome of HER. <<Check out my proclaimed list of reasons of why I'm aiming to live like the Valentine lady herself in my blog post entitled: Fill the Land with Love>>.
Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up and fulfill this prestigious role in order to shine a light through my hometown. Nominated for this role in 2020, I served on the Sweetheart Court -- a prestigious place for Valentine ladies-in-waiting. Stamping those valentines and beginning conversations with our community was a highlight of the season. Witnessing stories of how these valentines impacted so many others around the globe brought a smile to my face. I felt honored to have been able to play a small role in spreading love through our town -- and even across the globe!
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT:
Long ago, someone with bright ideas and a passion for spreading lovingkindness decided to let everyone in on a little joy. It was a simple task of hand-stamping and re-delivering notes from friend to friend, lover to lover, family member to family member. Passing out valentines had been a tradition for as long as one could remember, and this special holiday was a perfect excuse to shower a loved one with a special greeting. Just like the North Pole became the setting for our hero Mr. Clause, the Valentine lady needed a unique town to call her own. Enter LOVELAND: fittingly, the land of love. Dressed in red, the chosen Valentine lady and her court of ladies-in-waiting and seasoned veterans of the force, entered the month of February with their stamps of love in their hands. Wearing their best smiles and hearts filled with kindness, they set up shop in the Loveland Post Office to personally etch each greeting of love.
There is nothing in the world so sweet as love.
For the Loveland locals, notes of love were dropped off at the Loveland Post Office to be re-stamped with an official Loveland catchphrase and post-marked with good ol' Loveland, Ohio next to each stamp. If someone was getting ready to mail their note across the globe, locals would rush to the post office to receive the true stamp of love, postmarked with the beloved handiwork of the sweetheart herself. People across states and time zones even mail their letters to make a pit-stop in Loveland to be branded with love. Cue the romantic music! Those Lovelanders surely know how to woo their special someone. Just like all those Hallmark movies we know and love: Who wouldn't want their valentines routed through the whimsical land of love?
HAND-CRAFTED. MOTHER APPROVED. Each year, the Loveland community rallies together to create a drawing of original artwork that becomes that year's official Loveland valentine greeting. Art contests are held in the local schools, and the community is asked to get involved to showcase their own personal greeting. If chosen, that person's artwork is put on the cover of the official Loveland valentine and can be purchased as an original piece to be sent around the world -- or even down the road to your favorite neighbor! Poetry contests are held, love is defined, and the Loveland Post Office fills their halls with all things hearts in various shades of pink and red.
PLATFORM TO SHINE: Just like the heralded ladies before her, the legacy of the Valentine lady lives on. Serving as the town's spokesperson to kick off a season of love and kindness, this responsibility is really just a platform in which to spread light — to make others smile: to serve them in such a way that makes everyone feel loved and valued, regardless of their age, background, or belief in fairytales and true love. The Valentine lady is the megaphone of love -- the champion who shines light on those who are already shining! Love is her best characteristic, and kindness is her strength. Clothed in dignity, she seeks to pass on goodness in the form of a stamp and a smile.
She is the megaphone of love and A platform of light.
Our town is fortunate to have her -- a remarkable legend that will be written in pages of history. Songs will be sung. Envelopes will be marked. Joy will be given.
What a legacy this treasured tradition has left upon our town. Top five on the bucket list? Become the Valentine Lady.
Hand over that stamp of love! This gal wants to step up and encourage her town to thrive. One day, I’m going to be HER.
