This week’s prompt, Valentine, does not inspire me with something to write as my Irish ancestors probably did not celebrate Valentine’s Day. However, I have a Valentine memory of my own that I will write about.

In 1973 I was the third grade teacher at St. Joseph’s School in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. It was my second year of teaching and I really enjoyed the third graders. The previous year I taught a fourth/fifth grade combination with thirty-six pupils. Two of my students were from Cuba and did not know a word of English. It was a challenging year!

I loved my third graders. Valentine’s Day 1973 was a cold, snowy Wednesday. The tradition for students was to bring a homemade or purchased Valentine for each of their classmates. The teachers brought treats for their classes.

I don’t recall what I brought to eat but I remember what I hit I made with the drink I brought, Ting fruit punch.  “Ting” was a local popular favorite soda in central and northeastern Wisconsin by the Kist Bottling Company and later by the Wisconsin Waupaca Bottling Company, Wisconsin-made Ting came in an assortment of flavors, such as cream soda, grapefruit, cola, orange, grape, and several other flavors. . . Many of the original Ting flavors were produced in the classic distinctive clear glass bottles under the tradename “Flavor 8″ soda in New London, Wisconsin by Flavor 8 Bottling LLC.” Wikipedia

My students were thrilled to have “red pop” on Valentine’s Day. In the ’70s we did not think about nutritional values in foods and drinks like we do in 2021. I know I would not be able to provide a giant rush of sugar like I did that day to students today. We did not know better and we all went home very happy that Valentine’s day!