How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count The Ways!

There’s no denying it—February is here and love is in the air. It’s also pulsating through cyber space. Remember when we would have to pick up the phone to “reach out and touch someone”? Now we grab our sophisticated texting devices or sit down at our laptops when we want to communicate with friends and loved ones.
With Valentine’s Day just a heartbeat away, it’s the perfect time to start feeling the love and reminisce romance and sweet nothings from Valentine’s past. Thanks to the hottest trend on the Internet today—Facebook, friends both near and far were able to share their fondest, funniest and most intimate memories for this Valentine’s tribute.
Why not go make yourself a comforting mug of creamy hot chocolate or pour yourself a glass of your favorite wine and take the next few minutes to read about these delightfully special and romantic (well, most of them!) recollections of heart day!
Will You Marry Me?
· Valentine’s Day certainly sets the perfect setting to exchange “I Do’s” as Sherri and Todd from Saunderstown can attest. “On Feb 14, 1993, during a blizzard in Lincoln, NH, we got hitched. Yup, crazy kids that we were, we eloped! (And my Mother-in-law still holds it against me 18 yrs later! Just kidding!),” smiles Sherri.“To celebrate our anniversary, we never go out to dinner for the special day (always too crazy), but we have gone from putting the kids to bed early for "date night" to including them in our celebration, always filet mignon and baked stuffed potatoes cooked by my awesome Hubby--that's the best gift”! “Out of these past 18 yrs there were two times that we deviated from the above and spent Valentine’s Day weekend at our favorite Inn up in Freeport Maine having an intimate dinner followed by midnight shopping at LL Bean--very romantic,” Sherri laughs.“It’s not necessarily about romance, though. Whether you're spending it with your significant other, your kids, or a group of close friends, it doesn't matter what you do as long as you're celebrating LOVE!
There’s more where that came from—read on.

· Carolika from Narragansett shares, “My best Valentine’s Day was in 1987 when my now hubby, Gary proposed to me in Farmington CT. “Let's just say I knew it was going to happen by his expression and giddiness all day! Back during Christmas in 1986 he pretended to propose to me in front of my entire family. He handed me a small box (empty!) and got down on one knee and did this twice until my Nana chased him around the house hitting him with a roll of wrapping paper! So when the big day came, he took me out to a romantic dinner, and I kept looking for a ring in my wine glass, in the food (as he had each covered with a plate to slowly reveal the food underneath) to tease me I think. Finally, after dessert was served I thought I was mistaken and that no proposal was coming. Then, he handed me a framed poem titled "I just knew" and he proposed,” she reflects with great love.
And still more……

· “My everlasting memory would be the surprise trip we took to Disney leaving on Valentine's Day. When we arrived at the Ticket and Transportation center he had his marriage proposal written on a brick outside of the Magic Kingdom! He bought the brick in August of 98 to make sure it was in place by Feb 1999 and it said--"Christine, will u marry me? I love u Matt"! These lovebirds are happily married today and live in Saunderstown with their two young children.

· Sheila Lemont from East Greenwich shares some heartfelt thoughts about Valentine’s Day that will definitely require you grab a Kleenex or two! “One Valentine’s Day, John brought me to the seawall in Narragansett-- one of our favorite places. It was cold but sunny. As we stared out at the calm ocean, John told me he had waited his whole life for me and wanted to marry me. Never one for being serious too long, John soon had me laughing hysterically. No matter what life brings our way, John can always make me laugh. Love alone cannot keep a marriage strong, and I am fortunate John realizes this. We have experienced enough in life to know that being each other’s best friend and having utmost respect for one another is essential, a marriage cannot survive without these things. John tells me often that I am all he has ever needed, it still melts me. The romantic cards, flowers and beautiful jewelry he gives are very sweet and thoughtful. But the words he spoke that day on the seawall are the foundation of our marriage; he is a man of conviction and he is devoted. We are blessed to have the love and respect of our children and families. Our picture is complete.”

My Funny Valentine

· I'm probably one of the few wives who tries to talk her husband out of buying roses on Valentine’s day, (they are ridiculously priced at this time of year), but Ron usually buys them anyway. One day he was at the florist waiting in line with a bunch of other husbands and he spotted a cactus on the top shelf with about a 12" stalk and two round cacti on the side of it! He grabbed it and jokingly said to the others waiting in line to pay, “I might as well buy this too—could be symbolic of when a husband gets the shaft!” He and the other men laughed the entire time they were waiting to buy those $90 roses and he even had offers from the others to buy it from him! We still have that cactus and although it has sprouted other growths over the years, we still laugh when we look at it,” shares Tina Chofay from Narragansett.

· Jack from East Providence gladly shares one of his favorite memories. “Betsy and I had reservations at a restaurant in Newport for a romantic Valentine’s dinner. She was meeting me there after work. I arrived early and had a bottle of wine waiting at our table and her favorite appetizer, chilled jumbo shrimp cocktail. Before the waiter could pour the first glass of wine, I saw a woman stagger into the restaurant, lose her balance, trip and then fall. When she stood up, there I saw my wife but looking about 20lbs heavier. She found out we were expecting and wanted to surprise me by walking in with a big pillow stuffed under her shirt! Sadly, she lost her balance when she tried to get to our table and thus fell before she could even tell me! Thankfully, she only ended up with a sprained ankle and a bruised ego, but 7 months later our daughter, Natasha, was born. As a funny reminder, each year I buy her some type of pillow,” grinned Jack.

· “I have had two colonoscopies that were scheduled on Valentine’s Day. My joke is that the doc did his thing and did not even give me a kiss on the cheek afterward!” Anonymous from South County

The Power of Love
· “My best Valentine’s Day is the one that has yet to come. We seem to have lost the true meaning of Valentine’s Day by allowing it to become a Hallmark holiday where love is measured by the cost of roses or an expensive dinner. Money should never be the measurement of affection.”“Love is not only expressed in actions but it is also three of the most powerful words in the human language. To tell someone you love them gives another courage and hope. To tell someone you love them when they’re at their worst tells that person that your love is unconditional. My best Valentine’s Day will be the day that I’m told that I’m loved unconditionally. That day may be next week, next year, or possibly never but I will always be hopeful that any day and at any time I will have my “Best Valentine’s Day,” poignantly reflected by an anonymous and very insightful friend in South County.

· Deb from South County sure knows the true meaning of Valentine’s Day. “I have had some wonderful Valentine Days and those days have usually revolved around the children as part of our celebration. One special memory was taking my youngest daughter to Euro Disney where we spent V day at the Eiffel Tower with snowflakes whirling around us. Another year, we did fondues of all types with a table full of red hearts and cinnamon candles. But the most romantic V Day I can remember was last year. My sweet p-hubby and I took two of our girls to NYC for the evening. We dressed to the nines (whatever that really means!), dined at the traditional Swizz restaurant beginning our meal with Raclette cheese and finishing up with assorted swiss chocolates. We then went to the Met where we had front row center seats to see the opera, Carmine. Ending the night at Ellen's Stardust was just the perfect conclusion to a most romantic evening with three of my favorite people!”

· Fun loving Rita from Warwick remembers back to 1998 when she was scheduled for a pretty serious medical test a few days after Valentine’s Day so she and her hubby celebrated especially big that year with an expensive dinner, exotic drinks, flowers, candy—the whole 9 yards. Speaking of nine—their son Casey was born nine months later and now they joke that his mellow personality is probably a result of Rita getting pregnant just days before on Valentine’s Day and having that big test which she had to be sedated for not realizing she was expecting!

All You Need is Love
· Luscious from Narragansett lovingly remembers, “Years ago my sweet husband booked a great B&B in Newport, complete with roses and a bottle of champagne. We went out to dinner and walked around Newport. It was just lovely. The first Valentine’s Day we were together, however, he went to a basketball game that night without me and a good friend of mine nicely let him have it, so I think he realizes that wasn’t such a good move and he hasn’t repeated anything like that ever since!”

· “In 1997 my youngest daughter Haley, then 2 years old, was admitted to a hospital in Virginia for an illness caused by a strep throat infection that was not properly diagnosed by her doctor. I spent several days and nights by her side, never leaving the hospital. The 14th day of February happened to be one of those days. It also happened our 10th anniversary would be coming up that April, so my husband, then the very romantic man I once knew (ha ha) brought me a dozen roses and a beautiful strand of pearls along with matching earrings. My daughter’s recovery began on that day as well, which makes it my fondest memory of any Valentine,” Debbie Albertson, Warwick

A Family Affair
· One of our playful moms from Saunderstown had a special Valentine’s tradition for when her kids were younger. “For years and years when my three kids came down to breakfast they each had a little Valentines bag of goodies waiting for them on the dining room table complete with a handmade card that I would make for them. They loved this! I suppose it would be a little creepy to give my son who is now a senior in high school a card asking him to be my Valentine, but back in the day, they would beam when they opened cards from their dear old mom! Having unconditional love for children and family members can sure be hard work, but with heartfelt sincerity, without it, we’d all be lost!”

· Jeanne from Warwick candidly shares that a milestone Valentine came shortly after separating from her husband and it stands out not because she was sad but because she didn’t spend it wishing she was alone “Well, come to think of it, I wasn't alone after all. I was with my son and two of his friends and my friend Rita in a hotel in Boston. We were two moms who took their kids for a fun Valentine’s Day away, and we even qualified for the double room rate,” she giggles! We had such a great time, and I think it will be one we’ll remember for years to come.”

· Roger eagerly told of his “mystery gifts” each Valentine’s Day. “I’m 60 years old and have never been married but I still enjoy Valentine’s Day just as much as those who have a sweetheart. Every year I buy several gift cards to the movies, restaurants or local shops and anonymously mail them to members of my family or dear friends. To this day, I don’t think anyone has figured out it’s me that has been doing this. I like to refer to myself as The Phantom of St. Valentine’s Day,” he says with a mischievous laugh!

How Sweet it is
· This next Valentine idea is definitely not par for the course! “Before children and marriage, my now husband invited me to his house where he had set up a "romantic" 9-hole mini golf course throughout the entire house! He made up instruction cards (heart shaped of course) for each hole. Hole # 5 was called "Tunnel of Love--Hang on for this Ride”! With a notation on the card—“make it through and your thirst will be quenched!” It came complete with a bottle of wine! The entire course was set up with sweet, whimsical cards like that. It had to be the most creative, romantic thing anyone has ever done for me for Valentine's Day,” gushes anonymous from Narragansett!

· Tammy from Exeter put it bluntly and has taken all the guess work out of Valentine’s Day shopping for her guy. “I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas! When my husband and I started dating 25 years ago, I made it easy on him. I told him to never worry about what to buy me each year on heart day and just buy chocolate! I never met a piece of chocolate I didn’t like and he’s never disappointed me because each year, he finds a new sweet shop to buy from and although I know I can count on getting a delicious box of candy, I am always surprised at where it will come from.” Amen to that, Tammy!

It’s the Thought That Counts
It’s happened to most of us—we are presented with a beautifully wrapped package from our special someone and with our heart racing and fingers trembling in anticipation of what we are about to open, we simply cannot believe our eyes when we tear back the soft, pink tissue paper and a gift like Richard Simmons Sweatin to the Oldies exercise tapes are staring us back in the face! Bummer—what should have been that elegant diamond necklace was a hidden message—“You’re in lousy shape, here’s a way to do something about it”.
Don’t despair—you’re not alone.
· Patty from West Greenwich will never forget the 2nd Valentine’s Day she and her husband celebrated together. “I could barely lift the package off the table to unwrap it. He used the cutest wrapping paper—puppies wearing red heart sweaters. As I started to tear off the paper, something made a sound. No—it wasn’t a puppy, it was a talking bathroom scale! He got peanut butter and jelly for dinner for the next month,” she chuckled.

· Elizabeth, formerly from North Kingstown, recalls the year she received none other than an Earth Worm Farm, complete with a manual on how to select the best manure for a successful compost pile. “I don’t even like plants, never mind trying to have the ripest fertilizer on the block,” confesses Elizabeth. “We broke up soon after and I learned years later that he married a veterinarian.

· Missy couldn’t believe the year she opened her first 5-lb heart-shaped box of chocolates. “It was one of those beautiful satin boxes lined with deep, red velvet. I’d always wanted a big box of truffles that I could stash away on the top of my bedroom dresser for those times when I just wanted a sweet pick me up. Too bad when I opened it over half the chocolates were missing! My boyfriend at the time said he didn’t think I’d mind because I should never have been eating all those myself anyway!”

This year, it is estimated that the average consumer will spend at least $103 on cards, special gifts and anything else in between to make Valentine’s Day meaningful for those they love. It’s obvious after listening to the deliciously sweet memories shared from our generous friends here that no matter who is involved—lovers, children or dear friends, that love is the Universal language shared by all on this day and there will never be a price tag high enough to place on that.

Get Carded This Valentine's Day

On the rare occasion that I am out shopping alone or when I have a little leisure time and don’t have to crank my pacemaker up all the way to keep me from overheating on the days I’m scurrying from one errand to the next, one of my favorite ways to let loose is to head into town and try to get carded.
Although it’s no secret that I enjoy a glass of wine every now and again, I didn’t earn the nickname “Mama Merlot” for nothing, I’m not talking about my current fantasy of being asked to show proper ID at the liquor store. My days of having to furnish my license when I purchase anything fermented long passed since the birth of my 6th or 7th child (can’t remember now). My guess is the fact that I smelled like sour milk or had strained peas on my always present burp rag for well over a decade announced that not only was I of legal drinking age, but to please streamline the process so I could get home and uncork as soon as the kids were in bed. Nope—not that kind of carded—I’m talking something even better--browsing the glorious aisles of the greeting card section.
I have always been a paper person. For whatever reason, ever since I was a child I absolutely loved the touch, smell, feel and sound of paper. Whether it was brightly colored construction paper, a glossy magazine, or a crisp new book I simply adore and admire all that paper has to offer. Whenever friends or family have a birthday or other special occasion coming down the pike, selecting the right card is important to me. And so it began—my obsession with greeting cards.
Depending on my mood, the occasion and person I’m looking for, or the type of store I’m shopping in (there is an etiquette to getting carded you know) will determine how I behave while partaking in this hobby of mine. As a general rule of thumb, these are the guidelines I follow:
· Sympathy Cards—Out of respect to the recipient of this card, and to others perusing this section, it might be best to keep a somber manner as you choose your condolences, unless, of course, the card is for a dear friend who has finally had to put her favorite vacuum cleaner to rest.
· New Baby Cards—Feel free to giggle and guffaw over the cutesy sugar and spice and everything nice selection that awaits your pick. It is a joyous celebration, after all, and if it so happens that this is the couple’s first baby, and you’ve been there done that a few times, go easy on the “thoughtful advice” sentiments—don’t spoil their fun by announcing that sleep is overrated, stick to teddy bears and lullaby themes instead.
· Birthday Cards—Here’s where I absolutely lose control. There is an abundance of chuckles in this aisle and I say your behavior here is fair game. I happen to be a sucker for Hallmark’s witty, wise-cracking icon, Maxine! All I have to do is look at her and I laugh right out loud. Sure, you’ll find your share of serious, sappy ones to choose from as well, but if ever you need a little pick me—head right over to the birthday cards and don’t leave until you’ve managed to get others wondering what is making you laugh so hard.
· Inspirational Cards—Consider bringing a box of Kleenex along when you start to shuffle through this sector. You’ll no doubt notice all the tranquil and soothing artwork first, and then they’ll hit you—the thoughtful sonnets, poems, and versus that will let any friend in trouble know that they can and indeed must go on. If this in itself doesn’t make you cry, you can use that Kleenex to wipe away the tears once you discover it’s going to cost you at least an Abe Lincoln to purchase it.
· Thank You Cards—It’s no secret that I, Cheryl L. Butler, have always been a firm believer in the written thank you card—no matter what! When you flip your way through this portion of cards, I recommend putting on your “appreciation hat”. Is there someone who’s done something kind for you or your family that could stand to be recognized? C’mon, think now—your neighbor who baked you that delicious fruit cake for Christmas or who drove the carpool for 2 weeks while you recovered from bunion surgery perhaps? Whether your mother n law has gifted you with a photo tote bag sporting her mug, or you want to thank your child’s bus driver for the dozens of times she waited for little Jimmy who was late yet again, surely you can find a card that will express your undying gratitude.
· Cards with Sound—I’ve saved the best for last. With today’s savvy technology we are quite fortunate to have cards that whistle, light up, applaud, record our voices and of course, play hip music. Once you start flipping these auditory delights open, you may well not be able to stop yourself until you’ve listened to every last one. Go ahead and indulge! The worst that can happen is you disturb a few cranky shoppers in which case you can politely smile and ask which one they’d rather receive?
According to our friends at Hallmark, approximately 141 million cards are exchanged each year for Valentine’s Day. Whether you have a special someone, a dear friend that you cherish, or are just in the mood for some playful fun, the next time you have a few spare minutes why not head to your favorite store and try getting carded?