Sunday stills: Valentine's Day

I grew up in a traditional Chinese family. Love is not expressed in words, but in actions. Care for the welfare of the family and filial piety for our elder. Our grandfather came to live with us when I was a teenager, love is equated with respect.

In my own family, we are not a huggy, kissy family. The water engineer doesn't do Valentines Day. In fact, today he is thousands of miles away on a work assignment. So no flowers or chocolate for me. I show Valentines day in a different light.

Today, my pastor Jonathan Dove gave his sermon on a Passionate Marriage.

It's easy to fall in love and dream of wedding bliss.
It's hard to stay in love and live in the realities of married life.

Two sets of couples from Church and my ESOL class celebrate their 60th anniversaries. They must have their secret recipe. I would like to post their photos, but I did not ask for their permission.


This is my personal story of the greatest love story on earth.
The year was 1945.
Dad was 20,
Mum was 16.
They had to marry.
No, it wasn't a short gun wedding.
In fact they were absolute strangers.
Their families feared,
Mum would be snatched to be a sex slave of the Japanese army,
Dad would be conscripted to the Japanese army.

This photo in 1970 was the result of this unusual union.
I wish I could say, they were married happily ever after.
They were until,
Fate had a cruel twist.
Mum died an untimely death in 1988.
Dad loved her, and he pined for her everyday.

Here's another kind of love that touch my heart.
My six foot tall nephew Andrew,
Hand in hand,
He walked with his one year old son.
Andrew was patiently telling Benjy stories.
It was quite painful to watch,
As little Benjy toddlered,
sometimes stopping.
It could be easier,
It could be faster,
Just to pick him up.
So Andrew did.

In spring.
Love is in the air.
I love it when I see the little ones in Western Springs.
Adult geese protect their goslings.


The Australian coots feed their baby.

This photo is the epitome of Love.
Growing old together.
It doesn't matter if you are in a scooter,
and I am with a walker.
We can still smell the flowers in the park.

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Valentines Day
Posted in Sunday Stills, Sunday Stills Challenge of the Week, the next challenge with tags Sunday Stills, Sunday Stills Challenge on February 7, 2010 by Ed

I figured since next Sunday is Valentines day I’d throw this out and see what ya’ll can come up with. Creativity is a must and I’m sure there will be some funny photoshops..;-)
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