Wow! Kudos to you readers. You really came through. Below are your stories and there are some good ones.
I’ll admit it, a few of your stories made me a little misty. A couple others made me laugh.
I guess all I can say is thanks to everyone who submitted stories. I’m really impressed.
But, before I let you all have your say, I’ll butt in front and offer my Valentine’s Day story. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Hey, I edit this thing, the least I can do is lead it off. I’ll be short.)
My wife Dani and I spent this past football season acquiring a true disdain for the New England Patriots. Week after week we’d root for our beloved Philadelphia Eagles, who would usually lose, and whoever was playing the Patriots. Needless to say we had a lot of sad Sundays around the Brown house this season.
On Super Bowl Sunday, my parents took the kids and that gave Dani and I the chance to watch in peace. As the game wore on, we of course became more engrossed and when Eli Manning hit Plaxico Burress to give the New York Giants the lead, we both jumped off the couch as if we’d just won the lottery. High fives, big giddy smiles. It was awesome.
The next day I talked to some people who went to Super Bowl parties and most of them were talking about what a bad time they had.
That made me realize how cool it was just to sit back and watch the game with my wife and just enjoy each others’ company. … And a Patriots’ loss. ; ) Happy Valentine’s Day, Dani, I’ll see you tonight.
Alright, enough out of me, it’s time to hear from you.
A man who knows how to ask for directions
“My husband, Doug, can talk to anyone about anything. I guess that is the advantage of being a news reporter. On our honeymoon to Winnipeg (Canada) about 24 years ago, we borrowed a travel guidebook recommended by a friend. The book listed many interesting and unusual places to visit that also are frequented by locals, not the typical travel guidebook of tourist attractions. We enjoyed many of the book’s recommended activities and restaurants but we soon lost the book. We felt bad since it was loaned to us and searched bookstores trying to replace it with no success. Doug’s news reporter investigative skills then kicked in. The book was written by a local Winnipeg resident and Doug remembered the author’s name (we have since forgotten) and found him listed in the local white pages. Doug called the number and was pleasantly surprised when the author actually answered! Doug told him our predicament and asked where we could find another book, along with sharing plenty of compliments about the book’s content. They enjoyed a 20-minute conversation and Doug learned more about the author and additional places to visit. Not only were we able to find another copy of the book, but we enjoyed many more activities from the author’s ‘personal’ recommendations during the remainder of our honeymoon.” — Kim Laursen, Information Technology Services
Pew partners
“My moment is sort of an ongoing series of moments. My husband Rob is not really a religious man. Unlike me, he didn’t grow up going to church every Sunday with the family, saying grace before dinner and prayers before bed. Despite this, he agreed to get married in a Catholic church last June 2, and even willingly, without complaint, participated in all the marriage preparation that came along with it. Even though he is not Catholic or any denomination for that matter, he still comes to church with me every Sunday, not because I make him, but because he knows how important it is to me. I always tease him that he is welcome to convert and he usually just smiles and nods, though every once in a while I catch him piping up during a prayer or chiming in on a song. He even gave up pop and fast food for Lent! What I don’t think he realizes is a) that he may be a closet Catholic and b) that it means so much to me to have him sitting next to me in the pew week after week. I really do appreciate it with all my heart. Happy Valentine’s Day, dear!” — Nicole Lindquist, public affairs
The stars over Steamboat
“I have the pleasure of having my anniversary two days before Valentine’s Day and it has been our tradition for 14 years to take a vacation over our anniversary that also usually encompasses Valentine’s Day. Several years ago we went skiing in Steamboat, Colo., for our anniversary getaway. On Valentine’s night my husband signed us up for an evening sleigh ride on a ranch outside of Steamboat. The sleigh was pulled by two beautiful Clydesdale horses and was complete with sleigh bells and warmed-up blankets and a cowboy driving the horses. We rode through a forest finally coming to a beautiful open snow covered meadow. With only the lantern of the horses for light, the night was very dark. At the instruction of our cowbooy guide, we turned our heads to the heavens and were amazed as we looked in awe at the brightness of the millions of stars twinkling in the sky above us. We had a lovely dinner following that but the beauty of that starry night was magic and created a memory that neither of us will ever forget.” — Deborah Andersen, pediatrics
Their paths cross again
“In November 2005, I was reacquainted with a man that I had met in high school. Kevin was in Ambassadors — an elite high school swing choir — a year before me. I remember going to his performances and just staring at him because he put his heart into it. He was very animated and obviously showed he was having a good time. I would watch him walk through the halls and at one point, he opened the door for me. Mind you, we are talking high school, so finding a gentleman at such an early stage in my life was an awakening. … Years later, on a day in November 2005, my life changed as Kevin and I were reunited at a craft show. I was out in the parking lot talking to my roommate and some others I had just met at the show taking some friendly verbal abuse when Kevin, being my knight in shining armor, politely came up to me and said, “I think you are a marvelous, beautiful woman and I’d be honored if I could receive a phone call from you.” It took me two weeks to get the nerve to call him. One ring, two rings, three rings … no answer. Whew, I could leave a message. I said, ‘You probably don’t remember me, but I was the gal in the parking lot and I also know of you from high school. Maybe I’ll call you again.’ I waited two more weeks and called again … heart racing … faster … CONNECTION.
“We’ve been together almost every day since. He still teases me about not leaving my phone number for him the first time I called. This is true love. We’ve been through good times and bad and just recently, he rushed to my side when I called to let him know my new doggie of only four days had been killed by a car. He rushed across town to hug me, hold me, wipe my tears and comfort me. I couldn’t ask for a more caring, more loving gentleman than my sweet Kevin. Happy Valentine’s, Pumpkin! You are loved.” — Carol Ann Ern, anesthesiology
Dennis loves dolphins, Lori loves Dennis
“Last year my husband Dennis and I went on a cruise to the eastern Caribbean. On one of the islands, we swam with the dolphins. The experience was awesome. But the best part was watching my husband grinning from ear to ear while he played with the dolphins. It was one of those magical moments that made me think how wonderful he really is!” — Lori Fuller, printing services
Wet clothes, warm hearts
“My husband and I both love the outdoors so much that on our honeymoon last May we went on a Minnesota fishing trip. The weather was a little rainy so we purchased rain ponchos to take out in the boat with us. The very next day we headed out under clear skies, forgetting our ponchos. After settling into a nice calm bay, out of nowhere came a dark cloud and a short rain. It stopped and we evaluated our situation, and decided to continue fishing. We encountered several more bursts of rain and some downpours, but the fishing was good so we stayed. Each time we were both thinking that the other probably wanted to go in, and each time we assured each other that we were fine. We eventually gave in. We were fairly soaked but had a nice stringer of bass. We had such a great time but made sure to take our ponchos with us after that. It was a perfect day and we have had many more since then.” — Traci Clemons, Office of Vice Chancellor for Research
Perfect timing
“My husband is several years older than me and already had four daughters when we met. I was always resigned to the fact that we had our children and that I probably would never have any of ‘my own.’ However, a few years after we were married, we were blessed with a pregnancy that took many of our friends and family by surprise. An even greater surprise was that this child was a boy — a namesake for my husband after all those girls! The baby came and we were so proud and so filled with love. His big sisters couldn’t wait to show him off to their friends and we soaked up every last second we had with him. I, especially, couldn’t get enough of him, as I always knew, in the back of my mind, that soon I would be back to work and he would be off to day care. I have a special bond with my son, especially since he is my one and only baby. As planned, my maternity leave came to an end, and it was time to take my son to day care. My husband helped me pack up his things in my car, and then he took the girls to school in his car. I was very positive and upbeat, having cried only once that morning, and encouraged myself to think of this as a milestone in my son’s life, not as an act of abandonment. I arrived at the day care, only a few minutes away from our house, and took him in to meet everyone. He was happy and smiling, and everyone was very encouraging, believing too, that this was a good thing. I did not cry, and I left feeling confident that he was in capable hands. As soon as I walked out the door, however, I was overcome with emotion, and broke down in tears. Suddenly, I heard a horn honking, and looked up to see my husband, sitting in his car, just waiting for me. I got into his car, and tearfully asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ He answered me with a smile, ‘I just thought you might need me.’ He was so right! I sat there for a few moments with him, hugging him and crying, and then kissed him good-bye and went on to work. I did not cry the rest of the day, or any of the days following, because I had his support, and his love, and his encouragement.” — Maggie Winnicki, School of Allied Health Professions
More than enough
“Kelly and I met at a weekly meeting of the ‘Omaha Juggling Club.’ After several weeks of seeing each other there, I finally asked her for a date. We had each recently read the book “The Razor’s Edge” by W. Somerset Maugham. … It is a wonderful and deeply inspiring book and I thought that it would be nice if we watched both versions of the movie. In order to enhance our experience of the films I did some culinary research and found one or two dishes from each of the countries that the main character, Larry Darrell, visited on his personal journey of exploration. This involved foods from America, England, France, Germany and India. I spent about ten days sorting through recipes experimenting with strange ingredients in the kitchen and finally had the whole thing planned out. Then the time came, we watched both the movies, and it was all one long slow sumptuous feast. When at last we were done and it was time for her to leave, I gathered up the rented VCR in one hand and the bag of tapes in the other and was prepared to follow her out the door so I could return everything to Blockbuster. And there, standing in the middle of the living room, she saw my hands full and she surprised me by giving me our first hug. When she let go, she looked me in the eyes and said, “I can’t believe that you did all that cooking. I would have been happy with hot dogs.” — Sean Duffy, internal medicine
A good memory
“In February 2003, my grandmother died and her funeral was set to be on Valentine’s Day. My wonderful husband — now of 21 years — came home from work that week with a huge bouquet of flowers. He said he wanted me to have a good memory of that Valentine’s Day and not just a sad one. I will always remember his sensitivity and caring during this difficult time. He is my very best friend.” — Connie Ricchini, orthopaedic surgery