Love Collection: Ideas on New Traditions & Continuing Old Ones

For fifty-four years George, my father-in-law, gave Margaret, my mother-in-law, a heart shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day.  Without fail she would receive different variations of the same thing.  Because these boxes were and still are quite popular George had a lot of options. He would pick them up at retail locations based on a style that suited his fancy.  It was important to avoid giving the same design more than once. 

The sizes changed and the designs varied but I notice that Marge has multiple boxes where red is the predominant color and flowers or bows adorn the top.  She has marked the back of each box with the year it was given for record keeping, and after the chocolate was enjoyed the card from him would go on the inside.  


George made custom sheet metal stands for the boxes and Marge displays them beautifully every year in her window.  Her beloved collection doubles as her Valentine’s Day decorating scheme and it’s backed with loving sentiment.  It’s fun to see which of the boxes she displays each year since she has 54 to choose from!  George started this tradition and so my husband, Brian, has bought me heart shaped boxes each year we’ve been together.  I love displaying my boxes (photo above).  I don’t have custom sheet metal stands so I use plate stands for the display instead and they work very well.
 
George passed away in November and Marge has the last box that George gave her featured in its own shelving compartment.  It’s the shiny red box in this photo all the way to the right.

Next to this box is the card he gave her (the card isn’t shown in the photo).  The prewritten text in the card tells Marge how George may not have done the best in expressing his appreciation for her but it goes on to conclude that she is the most important thing in his life.  In his handwriting reads “All my love, Geo”.
 
This year our family got a new heart shaped box for Marge.  The box is bright pink with white and red details.  It’s purposefully missing the flowery and lacy adornments.  We hope the contemporary design will replace the representation of romantic love with the devotion and honorable love we feel for our mother.  We’ll called Marge on February 14th and tell her about the heart that is waiting for her that she never expected to receive (we hid it in her guest room dresser).  Happy Valentine’s Day!