Love is All Around

Love is All Around: Valentine's Day Interview with Susie Bright

Susie Bright is an author, editor, blogger, podcaster, performer, and lecturer on all matters of sex, sexuality, and erotica. And she's been an extremely popular TypePad blogger since 2004. Out of personal and professional interest, we asked her a few questions as we scramble get ready for Valentine's Day.

What makes Valentine's Day special?
SB: It's a pre-Christian Holiday with such a dramatic history you can't help but throb and weep!

Here's a glimpse from one of my favorite books, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things:

"In Rome in A.D. 270, Valentine had enraged the mad emperor Claudius II, who had issued an edict forbidding marriage. Claudius felt that married men made poor soldiers, because they were loath to leave their families for battle.

Valentine invited young lovers to come to him in secret, where he joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned of this "friend of lovers," and had the bishop brought to the palace.

The emperor attempted to convert him to the Roman gods. Valentine refused to renounce Christianity and imprudently attempted to convert the emperor. On February 24, 270, Valentine was clubbed, stoned, then beheaded.

But while Valentine was in prison awaiting execution, he fell in love with the blind daughter of the jailer. Through his unswerving faith, he miraculously restored her sight. He signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that would live long after its author died."

Now is that romantic or what!

How should people keep the sparks of Valentine's all year long?

SB: The traditional gifts of Valentine's tell you everything you need to know. Surprises that smell good, taste good, silky and sensual, declarations of affection, flirtations, and most of all, generosity of spirit.

I also think of Valentines as a family and children's holiday. There is nothing more fun that throwing a Valentine party for a bunch of scissor-and-glue-happy kids. —Of all ages! 


What would you change about Valentine’s Day?

SB:The "swan/consumer" role model of  romance. It's not a day for bitterness and comparisons. It's a hot pink 24 hours to embrace sensuality, let your freak flag fly, love for love's sake.

 

I also miss my mother's valentines, now that she's passed. She was the first one to ever "send" me a Valentine card and her exuberance was contagious...Never missed a year.

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day story?
SB: Erotic: Well you'll have to visit my blog for some of those stories.

Mommy/Baby: My daughter's mushy valentines to me, every year. She writes a poem, draws a picture of me, and I melt.

Parties: My friend Scottie throws a massive crafty Valentine Party each year, turning his whole house and garage into a Warholian Love Factory. It goes on all night; there are people welding outside and glue-gunning, water-coloring in the kitchen, glitter-spewing, collaging with old National Geographic's and National Enquirer's. You bring your own scissors and stuff to add to the 20-year supply closet. Love is All Around, baby!

OK, it’s last minute, and I don’t have anything for Valentine's. Help! What should I do!?
SB: Two ideas:

• My lover game, 

via everything.typepad.com

Well, I'm in the spirit of the day and loved this interview!Right now I'm looking forward to my very special Valentine night 2010!

Susie Bright is an author, editor, blogger, podcaster, performer, and lecturer on all matters of sex, sexuality, and erotica. And she's been an extremely popular TypePad blogger since 2004. Out of personal and professional interest, we asked her a few questions as we scramble get ready for Valentine's Day.

What makes Valentine's Day special?
SB: It's a pre-Christian Holiday with such a dramatic history you can't help but throb and weep!

Here's a glimpse from one of my favorite books, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things:

"In Rome in A.D. 270, Valentine had enraged the mad emperor Claudius II, who had issued an edict forbidding marriage. Claudius felt that married men made poor soldiers, because they were loath to leave their families for battle.

Valentine invited young lovers to come to him in secret, where he joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned of this "friend of lovers," and had the bishop brought to the palace.

The emperor attempted to convert him to the Roman gods. Valentine refused to renounce Christianity and imprudently attempted to convert the emperor. On February 24, 270, Valentine was clubbed, stoned, then beheaded.

But while Valentine was in prison awaiting execution, he fell in love with the blind daughter of the jailer. Through his unswerving faith, he miraculously restored her sight. He signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that would live long after its author died."

Now is that romantic or what!

How should people keep the sparks of Valentine's all year long?

SB: The traditional gifts of Valentine's tell you everything you need to know. Surprises that smell good, taste good, silky and sensual, declarations of affection, flirtations, and most of all, generosity of spirit.

I also think of Valentines as a family and children's holiday. There is nothing more fun that throwing a Valentine party for a bunch of scissor-and-glue-happy kids. —Of all ages! 


What would you change about Valentine’s Day?

SB:The "swan/consumer" role model of  romance. It's not a day for bitterness and comparisons. It's a hot pink 24 hours to embrace sensuality, let your freak flag fly, love for love's sake.

 

I also miss my mother's valentines, now that she's passed. She was the first one to ever "send" me a Valentine card and her exuberance was contagious...Never missed a year.

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day story?
SB: Erotic: Well you'll have to visit my blog for some of those stories.

Mommy/Baby: My daughter's mushy valentines to me, every year. She writes a poem, draws a picture of me, and I melt.

Parties: My friend Scottie throws a massive crafty Valentine Party each year, turning his whole house and garage into a Warholian Love Factory. It goes on all night; there are people welding outside and glue-gunning, water-coloring in the kitchen, glitter-spewing, collaging with old National Geographic's and National Enquirer's. You bring your own scissors and stuff to add to the 20-year supply closet. Love is All Around, baby!

OK, it’s last minute, and I don’t have anything for Valentine's. Help! What should I do!?
SB: Two ideas:

• My lover game, 

Comments

[Andy]

No link for Susie's lover game????

[FaithB]

I was just going over the origins of Valentine's Day with my kids at school and read about the jailer's daughter. What a beautiful story. My Valentine is in Turkey, but just hearing his voice the other day is the greatest valentine I could receive. I love you my friend. Happy Valentine's Day to you!!!! xo

[Anastasia]

Isn't that a wonderful feeling, Faith? Just hearing your lover's voice? I personally discovered at a very young age the true meaning of love through lots of hardships and difficulties. Now, at almost 52 and still passionately in love with the same man, I feel all those hardships were worth the happiness I've known since then.

[Faith Barndt]

As you know, Anastasia, I went about trying to find love the wrong way. All I ever wanted was to be loved, totally and completely.... I wanted to have someone who actually wanted ME to love him..... It was not until I stopped trying and decided I would be an "Old Maid" for the rest of my life,that Mesut entered my life. I ran from him at first, thinking he was like all others, but very quickly learning he is NOT like ANY others! Mesut is a man of integrity, honesty, honor, and when he loves, he loves unconditionally and completely. I am so thankful to God for taking my hardened heart, and melting it enough to all Mesut to love me.... and allow me to love him. I was 54 when we met. I will be 59 in April.... I am 24 yrs older than he is but when we are together, I am also 35 yrs old... and have energy I have never had before. I am so blessed!!!!!

[Anastasia]

To me love is ageless and unconditional and often happens when you expect it the least.

[Agnes]

Belated Happy Valentine's Day, Anastasia.