Today is February 14, Valentine’s Day, but in my mind it’s already Lent, even though Ash Wednesday is this coming Wednesday, February 17.

Huh? Did I miss something? I thought Lent BEGINS with Ash Wednesday?

Well, yes it does, but for me, I have already recorded the organ music for February 21, the first Sunday in Lent. That’s because I record music for the Sunday service on Fridays of the week prior. That includes the prelude, postlude and an “introit,” a short organ piece used at the beginning of the service.

For the hymns, though, I record the music on Fridays TWO weeks prior, so it means I’ve already recorded the hymns for March 7, the Second Sunday in Lent. That is because Russell Ishida, the music director and video wizard, adds the voice of a soloist to my pre-recorded hymn performances, which takes a little extra time on his part.

It being Valentine’s Day today, I wanted to share this familiar passage with you.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

How many times have I heard that passage read? At least 6000 times, as I have played more than 6000 weddings, and that particular scripture lesson was always the one read.

So I guess it might be appropriate to hear it again today, it being Valentine’s Day.

Five years ago I found this posting on Facebook:

On Tuesday I got an email from the church secretary. As usual I had left a note on her desk Sunday with the name and composer of the piece I planned to pay the next Sunday. Her concern was that my plan of playing Bach’s Air on the G-String would not be appropriate to have printed in the church bulletin. I begged to differ and explained why but I guess I was overruled. (Betsy Cross Walsh)

My friend from Burbank High School, Steven Lester, commented: Well, an equitable compromise could have been achieved by just calling the piece “Air on the F## string”. Nobody there would have cared either way.“

Facebook reminded me that the next to the last Valentine’s Day before he died, my husband Carl cooked me this dinner.

In some circles, this is Single Awareness Day (SAD), for those people, like me, who no longer have mates.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!