Welcome to The Senate Site

By Patricia Valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day from the truest of Valentines! This has always been my favorite and most dreaded days of the year. My favorite because, well, what girl doesn’t love chocolate. Yet there is a down side: the teasing factor. While growing up I heard comments such as: “Patti Valentine, will you please be my Valentine?” Wow, so original.

So what does it mean to be a Valentine? Does it mean skipping school to go see our government in action? Or is it getting your picture in the paper sitting all the floor of the senate? Possibly but, to me, being a Valentine means gathering as a family on Sunday, eating and enjoying a “playful” political debate which always involves encyclopedias and very large words to try and prove Dad wrong. It usually doesn’t happen though.

My father comes across as very knowledgeable and well tempered. While this is true, there is so much more. Growing up under his roof has been interesting, and this has become much more apparent as I moved out and have seen other ways of life. One disadvantage about being in the public eye is the face recognition. We have all learned the hard way never to take Dad shopping. Christmas is the worst. What usually ends up happening is, while we go shopping, he sits in the mall talking and answering questions.

One definite advantage though is the information that has poured from him to help us all. My senior year of high school, for example, I led a lot of the discussion in my government class and got a easy A. It just kind of felt like Sunday dinners. Even though my dad’s occupation has had its ups and downs I’m very proud of him and the way he always honors his integrity and truly follows what he believes. When it all boils down, he is just a regular man that has tried to influence people and events around him in the best way he is able.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Dad. I love you!

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Twitter Updates

Follow us on the Senate Twitter Site