Happy Valentine's Day my love...
Today is Valentine's Day... so what better day than today to proclaim to the universe that I love Anne-Marie. I'm humbled that she chose to be with me (more). She is the most beautiful woman I know! In Italy, I always introduced her as "la bellissima super-sexy Anna-Maria." (Bellisima means very beautiful and the other part you can figure out for yourself.) She's not only beautiful but also intelligent, funny, witty, sweet, spiritual, and she loves me. I wonder why that is?Anne-Marie is a great wife and a loving, gifted, and talented mother to our children. Everyone loves Anne-Marie. In fact, people will tolerate me just to be near her... and that says a lot!
I love you Anne-Marie (more than I've ever loved anyone)! Thanks for the Valentines-Day card and yes, I'm raising my hand. Is that a sign?
San Valentino (or Saint Valentine) was a martyred priest and is the patron saint of Terni (in Umbria) and the patron saint of lovers. Terni (25 minutes from Spoleto and the city where our Church building was located) was ravaged by the war with Germany so there's not much left of the historic downtown. (The tomb of San Valentino remains.) Terni does have some sites to see. There's the nearby waterfalls and the location where the concentration camp scenes in "La Vita e' Bella" (Life is Beautiful) were filmed.The fame of San Valentino is due to the anglo-saxon legend that San Valentino used to present a flower from his own garden to young visitors. Two of these young people fell in love; and this love resulted in a union so happy that many other couples followed their example. Eventually, a day was set aside as a general blessing for love in marriage. The present Basilica was built in 1605 on the ruins of previous temples, and contains various works of art and the crypt of San Valentino.
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