� Heidi Middleton : “ My first Valentine ’ s Day with my now husband , 20 years ago . We ’ d only been seriously dating a couple of months , and I didn ’ t know he remembered that I ’ d mentioned once that I never went to prom . For Valentine ’ s he told me to meet him at his house in a fancy dress . He greeted me at the door in a suit , walked me around to the garage , and opened the doors to disco lights , a mirror ball , balloons and streamers , an 80s mixtape playing , and signs all around the walls , ‘ SHS Prom 1990 .’ Best prom ever !”
� Paula Hughes : “ I would have to say my Valentine ’ s Day wedding in 1981 . We ’ re no longer married , but that was my happiest Valentine ’ s Day .”
� Marcia Latham Barrier : “ Makes me smile now but not so much then . Bought me a Snickers and wanted half ! Married him anyway !”
� Tori Jones : “ My favorite Valentine ’ s date to this day was visiting The Kentucky Castle in Versailles , Ky . It was a very unique and different experience . We got dressed up , listened to a pianist play music while dining inside of the castle , and ate some ‘ fancy ’ foods I had never tried before . I realized I am much more of a cheeseburger gal after that experience ( I am not used to ‘ fancy ’ foods I cannot pronounce , lol ), but it was still a really fun and cool time . 10 / 10 recommend . Just be prepared to venture out and try the items listed on their menu for Valentine ’ s Day .”
� Robyn Aker : “ Cooking chicken parmesan with my daughter the Feb . after my liver transplant . Best night ever !!”
� Christina Carr : “ Had my youngest daughter 31 years ago on Valentine ’ s day .”
�Molly Johnson : “ Our first Valentine ’ s Day was an absolute disaster . We vowed never to celebrate it again , that was 31 years ago .”
� Alexa Acey : “ We have a tradition in our family ... Me and my daughter ( now 8 ) play restaurant for the three boys and their dad ! It ’ s a whole thing ... we decorate the dining room , take their orders , refill their drinks . Kinda crazy but that ’ s been our Valentine ’ s Day for the last several years ! All the kids look forward to it !”
� Stacie Kuhl : “ My husband purposed to me when I was only 19 . He cut out Will You Marry Me out of red construction paper and made it so it glowed under his black light . He had it laying on our bed with rose petals and a single diamond ring and a very sweet letter for when I got home from work . 27 years later I still have the ring , the construction paper letters and the letter . We ’ ve been married for 25 years .”
� Carey Hampton : “ Going and trying a new restaurant and just driving around with my husband or coming home and we just watch a movie on Netflix or something .”
� Barbara York-Jay : “ When I met my husband who is a true romantic . A card of love and time spent at dinner just talking , enjoying each other ’ s company . Time spent together is always a favorite .”
� Jon Hall : “ She took me to Cumberland Falls .”
� Jacinda Norton : “ Seeing Michael Bublé in concert .”
� De Gower : “ My husband and my first Valentine ’ s day when we were dating . I was awoken to someone knocking on my door . By the time I got to the door , no one was there but there was a dozen peach roses ( I told him I didn ’ t like red roses because they were typical ). Later when he came to pick me up for our date , he hands me a single artificial rose in a vase with a card saying that like his love , this rose would never die , as well as a huge box of chocolates . Once we were leaving and he opened my door , sitting in the seat of his truck was a teddy bear . He made reservations out of town for dinner so once we got there it had started pouring down rain . He drops me off at the door and parks I don ’ t know how far away and walks in the rain just so I didn ’ t get rained on . ( Repeated when we left , since neither of us brought an umbrella .) That was 4 1 / 2 months into our relationship , 28 years later we are still together . ( We keep an umbrella in the car now , just in case ).”
� Kristina Creek Rock : “ Getting three white roses and nine red roses for an anniversary one year when I was working seven 12-hour shifts in a row at the hospital .”
Love is in the Air !
February 2023 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 45