My neighbors Parker and Patty are always telling me how proud they are to be a part of Port O’Connor, Texas. They say it is a great community and so friendly. They always tell me how special Valentine’s Day is to them, but I never knew why until recently.

Parker told me that he met Patty in 4th grade, fell in love with her in 7th and married her after his first few years in college, but Valentine’s Day is where it all began.

When they started junior high, Parker really liked girls. He flirted and complimented and fancied himself a ladies’ man. When the class decided to exchange valentines, Parker wrote one to every single girl in their grade. They each were the same. He wrote, “Dear _____, you are the prettiest girl in our class and my favorite. Please be my valentine and my girlfriend. Love, Parker.”

He neatly printed each girls name on the pink card, but failed to print them on the envelopes. So, when Patty opened hers, it read ‘Dear Barbara,’ when Barbara opened hers it read ‘Dear Deloris,” and so on and so on to more than 17 girls in his 7th grade class.

First the girls were mad, then they laughed, then they made fun of him for the remainder of the year. None of them had more fun teasing him than Patty with the beautiful red hair and bright green eyes.

By spring Parker was smitten, He asked Patty to the dance, they became best friends and later boyfriend and girlfriend.

Seven years later when Parker asked Patty to marry him, on Valentine’s Day no less, he wrote to her a solemn promise to never send another girl a valentine and always send one especially for her, the girl he loved.

Patty accepted and 47 valentines later she has always gotten a special valentine wish from her special valentine love. Some have been extravagant, like the Hawaii trip or the diamond bracelet, some have been silly and fun like the silhouettes he hand crafted and displayed kissing in the front yard, and one or two were sweet and simple like the bouquet of pink roses delivered to the maternity ward after the birth of their second daughter on February 13th or the hand crafted desk for her retirement home office.

But, big or small, plain or elaborate, this June 1st will mark 48 wonderful years together and this month he will deliver a 48th heartfelt and loving valentine’s Day card to Patty with her name proudly written on the card, correctly every time.

Happy Valentine’s Day to lovers everywhere!