Valentine's Day Chocolates

As February 114h approaches, all sorts of Valentine-themed treats crowd the shelves of stores. Reds and pinks abound. The holiday comes during that final seemingly interminable stretch of winter, when gray days, dirty roadside slush and the occasional blizzard makes it seem as if winter will be here forever. We need cheery red heart-shaped boxes, velvet bows,  glittery pink foil and the chocolates wrapped in that foil. This year, Valentine's Day is also the first day of Lent, the season of fasting and sacrifice. What to do?? Perhaps unwrap those chocolate hearts early and enjoy some of them now.