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Published on 02/09/1998 All articles from this issue

The world was in love this past Saturday

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By Clyde Noel

A Side of Clyde

What is a valentine? He or she could be a boy or girlfriend, wife, husband or lover, but not everyone needs a special someone to cuddle up with or send chocolates and flowers. Valentines go beyond lovers.

A valentine is someone who will be there for you when you need them, someone you care about enough to say "I love you" in one way or another. Every day should be Valentine's Day.

You can love your mother, your neighbor, your best friend or your pet. No one said you were allowed only one valentine.

My valentine is my wife. I like to do nice things for her on Valentine's Day. I open the door for her when she puts laundry in the washing machine. I try not to drop dishes when I dry them.

I gave my wife a little card for Valentine's Day - an American Express Card.

A valentine is someone you can spend hours upon hours with. It's someone you can spend a lot of money on and not feel guilty about spending too much money. It's the thought that counts, not the money.

This year Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday, and that meant Saturday night out. My valentine and I went for a dinner and a movie. We saw a romance movie in which knights killed dragons and lovers met at the end in a blissful setting.

The movie employed the vagaries of love, and inspired sharing. In my case, it was a large box of popcorn.

Last year's Valentine's Day movie was "The English Patient," a romantic mystery that related a doomed love affair between a desert explorer and a very married Kristin Scott Thomas. The movie was hypnotic, heart-wrenching and incredibly passionate. Just what you want for Valentine's Day.

For many, Valentine's Day can be a harsh reminder of loneliness. Some people see it as the worst day of the year. I am a hopeless romantic, which is why I enjoy Valentine's Day.

Everyone has their own idea of what or who a valentine should be. The most important requirement should be that you think the world of the person. This person is one of the people you trust the most. You do not want to be lied to by your own valentine.

The first valentine card I remember came to me in the sixth grade. I was hopelessly in love with Betty Sue, and I wasn't sure if she shared my feelings or not, but on Valentine Day she sent me a big heart that said, "I'd go from here to Timbuktu, to have a valentine like you."

My heart tripled in size. It was a beautiful thing and ultimately gave me the courage to ask her to go to a movie. Betty Sue, where are you today? You could still be my valentine.

For many people, Valentine's Day becomes a litmus test of a relationship's staying power. It's the holiday that makes or breaks a budding romance. It's not the day to remember Cupid is a lousy shot.

It could be the one day out of the year to remember because it could be the first day of the rest of your wife.

One the other hand, if you don't have a little gift for your valentine on Valentine's Day, it could be soon be " Moving Day."