IT  WAS  VALENTINE’S DAY

[For  a  change  of  pace, since it was St. Valentine’s Day yesterday, I decided to write a love story. Since today’s First Reading and Gospel talk about folks with skin problems, I made up this story yesterday about 2 people with skin problems and did a second draft of it this morning. So the title of my story is, “It Was Valentine’s Day. This is totally fictional. The 2 characters in the story don’t exist, but in a way, I hope they do.]

It was Valentine’s day and Jack and Jill seemed to be the happiest couple in The Cozy Corner Restaurant.  They were in a booth over in the corner – laughing and laughing - and enjoying and enjoying - their steak and chips – red catsup on both – as well as strawberry milk shakes and heart shaped cupcakes for dessert.

The Cozy Corner Restaurant was bright lights – no low lights and candles restaurant – certainly not a Valentine’s Day Restaurant. Jack and Jill knew it wouldn’t be too crowded.

It was not only the 9^th anniversary of their wedding – but also the 10^th anniversary of their engagement: February 14^th.

They met in rehab – both back from  Iraq – both wounded warriors from the

First Gulf War.  Both were wounded big time by I.E.D’s -  Improvised Explosive Devices.

Jill lost her sight – and had serious scars on forehead and face.  Jack lost one ear. His face was also seriously burnt and damaged for life.  Serious plastic surgery was performed on both of them – but … well – they had both been seriously scarred.

Recovery was slow – not just of skin and body – but also of soul and spirit.

The miracle happened when both met in the same rehab center. The more they talked, the more the skin of their souls healed.

Jack popped the question  - Valentine’s Day – 10 years ago. His best line was: “Hey, Jill, I recently realized the two of us can make one person. So will you marry me?”

“Yes, of course, I’ve been wondering when you’d ask.”

They did.

At first sight, some people upon seeing them - would shake their heads, close their eyes and turn away from them.

“Ooooh!” And “Ooohs” can have many interpretations – some of them hurtful.

At first it annoyed Jack that people would do this – but what made up for it at times – was that Jack knew Jill – being blind - couldn’t see other people’s faces.

At times - people who knew or got to know Jack and Jill – would wince and tighten their fists – but not at Jack and Jill – but at looks and comments by others.

Once - a college kid said, “Look at the stranger rangers over there – Ugly and Uglier.” One drunk college guy yelled “Hey lepers!” And the drunk’s  girlfriend laughed.

As they grew older – those who knew their story – would call them, “Beautiful and More Beautiful.”

I once heard some folks say about them, “You know that old cliché – ‘Couples who really love each other – begin to look like the other - more and more as time goes on.’ Well, did you notice that Jack and Jill are looking more and more like each other – every day.”

After rehab – after getting married - they both went to the same college – and both got the same Master’s Degree - in Social Work. Since Jill was blind this made Homework and studying together that much easier.

They worked – together - many times - both at 3 different Veterans Administration Hospitals – helping in the healing of so many wounded warriors.

The Army discovered they were great speakers – and their gig was great – not just for those in the military – but also others – who had heard about them.

They loved to say out loud in talks to military folks – as well as to others -  who were in the pits – or suffering from depression – or wounded from serious accidents or what have you, “I’m Jack!”  “I’m Jill.”

They would continue,  “And many people thought we were over the hill – because of our injuries. But as you can see here we are – not over the hill - we’re here fetching and giving out pails of clear cool water.”

If it was February, and it was an all-male group of wounded soldiers, Jill loved to say – sort of with a whisper and a cautious look around the room, “Love healed both of us. Laughter healed both of us. Meeting each other healed us. Then she would add: “Jack’s greatest compliment to me so far was, ‘Jill, it’s February. It’s the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition time, and I’m not interested in seeing anyone but you.’”

That always got a big, “Ahhh!” – except for some exceptional Christians.

Then Jill would say, “And when I first heard that, I asked, ‘Jack what’s this Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition?’”

Sometimes they would throw into their talks to wounded warriors, “We’re both Christians, Catholics, and we both love the gospel stories when Jesus healed people with skin problems – called ‘Leprosy’ back then.” Well, we discovered first hand – we’re being Jesus to each other – because Jesus healed folks – and our love for each other – healed us together.”

They also loved to say, “We didn’t know it back then – when we had great skin, the more we discovered what it is to have been burnt or wounded – we learned that everyone feels ugly – or hurt or burnt – from rejections, from broken relationships – from family fights – from this and that.

And they would love to conclude, “Yes, we have two beautiful kids, Lucy  and Dezi.  And yes, they’re funny, but you should see their skin.”