Our first Valentine's Day arrived shortly after our wedding day, I was newly un-employed and we had little money to spend but I simply had to let the love of my life know how much she meant to me. I carefully planned out my attack to "wrap" our small house as a present for my new bride to welcome her home from work on Valentines Day. Crepe paper streamers and hand-lettered "I love you" signs graced our front lawn. The decor was funky, hand-made and definately low budget but with a full heart and much committment I created a simple message that said to my bride "I love you".

We just celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and my wife remarked about how much my first Valentine's Gift has meant to her throughout the years. Once again, I contemplated the importance of thoughtful gift giving. While I am a florist and love to sell large bouquets of flowers I also know that carefully thought out gifts can mean so much more than even costly diamonds. The key to gift giving is considering the wants, needs and desires of the person you are giving a gift to and not considering yourself in the action.

For example, neck ties and underwear and popular choices as

According to one legend, Saint Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that the venerable Saint Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in Europe.

The origins matter little today as Saint Valentine's name has become synonymous with love. Flowers, cards, candy and gifts all mean you have special feelings for a special person. Whether given to a lover or a friend, by a man or a woman, boy or girl, young or old--a valentine means you care.