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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Our Favorite Family Valentine

It has to be the one my first-grade brother (who had immersed himself in the world of Calvin and Hobbes) sent to his teacher, a short sweet elderly lady named Ms. Miller.

Dear Miss Miller [he scrawled on a paper heart],

I hate you. Drop dead.

Love,
Kenton


At the parent-teacher conference that immediately followed Kenton's missive, white-haired Ms. Miller pulled the valentine out of her desk and said in a bewildered, sad way, "I just don't understand it. He's such a sweet boy."

My parents didn't ban Calvin and Hobbes, but they did have a little discussion with my brother on CONTEXT and how it does or does not contribute to humor. Or to love notes, for that matter.