Making Valentine’s Day special for a friend, parent or any senior citizen is really not all that hard — you just have to be aware that the day may be sad. Go a bit out of your way to make Valentine’s Day special anyway.

I’ve long known that the gift of time is the absolute best gift one can give to another human, and spending time with my mom is no exception to that rule. She doesn’t require flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day (although that’s nice too) but, instead, just holding her hand is enough. You don’t have to be rich to lend some richness to a senior citizen’s life.

Just because we are no longer spring chickens, so to speak, doesn’t mean we have to skip Valentine’s Day. In fact, this is a great time to also pass out hugs to your favorite people. You are never too old to have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Friday we are having a Valentine’s dinner at the Mower County Senior Center. You have your choice of meal either parsley crusted cod for $8.50 or chicken kiev meal for $9.50. There will be piano music in the background and a backdrop for a portrait you can take home with you. Please RSVP by stopping by the senior center front desk or calling 507-433-2370.

Thursday and Friday we will be selling Valentine cookies $2.50, chocolate-dipped strawberries $9 a dozen, caramels $3 for six and turtles $5 for six. To make sure you get what you want, preorder by calling Teresa at 507-481-3332.

For those of you enjoying Life Long Learners or if you haven’t been able to attend yet. This class will be changing to Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. Hope to see you there.

 Upcoming events

Monday: Bone Builders, 9 a.m.; Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie’s Friends, 1 p.m.; Zumba 6:15 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers, 8:15 a.m.; Exercise with Evies Friends, 9 a.m.;

Hormel breakfast 9 a.m.;

Grief Support Group, Mary Kittelson, 10:30 a.m.; Enchilada casserole, 11:30 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge, 500) 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Tai chi, 9 a.m., Wood Carvers, 9 a.m.; Weight Watchers, 12:15 p.m.; Cards (Duplicate Bridge, Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.;

Life Long Learners, 2:30 p.m.; Weight Watchers, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Silver Sneakers, 8:15 a.m.; Exercise with Evie’s Friends, 9 a.m.;

Cards (Pinochle), 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.; Zumba, 6:15 p.m.

Friday: Bone Builders, 9 a.m.; Valentine’s Day dinner, noon;

Cards (Duplicate Bridge, Pinochle, Cribbage, 500), 12:30 p.m.; Ping pong 3 p.m.

 Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Jan. 25, two tables

1st Dave Solomonson, 2nd Jaynard Johnson, 3rd Millie Seiver, 4th John Karnes

Tuesday Duplicate Bridge

Jan. 26, 4.5 tables

1st Jim Fisher, 1st Larry Crowe; 2nd Millie Seiver

2nd Joyce Crowe; 3rd Barb Engebretsen, 3rd Orrin Rosin; 4th Rick Strouf, 4th Edna Knobe; 5th Lorraine Lippert, 5th Russ Vaale

Tuesday 500

Jan. 26, three tables

1st Carol Hamilton, 2nd Romans Kiktus, 3rd Mary Kiktus, 4th Betty Fisher

Wednesday Cribbage

Jan. 27, 2 tables

1st Hilton Henschen

2nd Bernice Scholer

3rd Steve Stoltenberg

Wednesday

Duplicate Bridge

Jan. 27, 5 tables

1st Eunice McAlers, 1st Warren Behrens, 2nd Rick Stroup, 2nd Gene Domino; 3rd Dave Ring, 3rd Orrin Roisen; 4th Edna Knolbe, 4th Cleo Osmundson; 5th Jim Fisher, 5th Larry Crowe

Friday 500

Jan. 29, four tables, 1st Gene Rauen, 2nd Dennis Bray, 3rd Russ Vaale, 4th Carol Hamilton