LOVE IS IN THE AIR

A nice wee fairy-tale, embroidered and perpetuated by the world’s largest greeting’s card company (who shall remain nameless), runs that in Early Mediaeval Rome, Valentine opposed a law by Claudius II who, wanting to grow his army, banned young men from marrying. This Valentine was a clergyman who married sweethearts in secret and when caught was arrested. That part, it seems, is partly true. But then, the story goes, that whilst awaiting his imminent beheading he wrote the first Valentine card to the daughter of his jailer whom he had cured of blindness with his magical hands. He wrote, “From your Valentine”. So, anyone who believes this romantic story to be true also believes in healing hands and, presumably, the Tooth Fairy.