By Zanab Jaffrey/reporter
Red roses, oversized teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates will be flying off the shelves for Valentine’s Day.
The holiday is advertised to be all about love, affection, candy and the colors red and pink. Couples will go above and beyond in gift giving to show the one they love just how much they care.
For some, the day is about the gifts. Others might just want to spend some time together, and friends may get together to celebrate each other. And while it may seem like another holiday, faculty say domestic disasters, memorable moments and one-of-a-kind gifts will all play a part.
NE chemistry professor Susan Patrick said she remembers a Valentine’s in particular when she made her husband’s favorite cookies, only to have their dog devour them before her husband had a chance to see them.
“I woke up and found drips of pink icing on the carpet in our room, down the hall and all over in the kitchen,” she said. “I have never made those cookies again.”
People don’t have to try their hand at a culinary art to have a successful holiday. Candy can be just as pleasantly received by individuals, relatively inexpensive and less messy to obtain.
“Almond Joys and Snickers are my favorite,” NE speech instructor Michael Givens said.
For a more extravagant gift, NE government professor Lisa Uhlir said her favorite Valentine’s gift was a real horse from her husband, something she had wanted since she was a little girl.
“He had cut out a giant 10-foot cardboard heart and painted it,” she said. “Attached was a beautifully wrapped present, and when I opened it, it was a bunch of carrots.”
Uhlir said she likes spontaneous gifts that let people know the giver understands them.
Making someone’s childhood dreams come true is a big task and, on a student budget, may be unreachable. But there are alternatives. Someone who wants to travel might enjoy a museum; a music enthusiast, a local concert; and an animal lover, a trip to the zoo or aquarium.
For NE student Lamar Thomas, it is about being one-of-a-kind.
“My most memorable Valentine’s Day had to be flying home and surprising old friends,” he said. “I even surprised my ex with a furniture set.”
Thomas, a Louisiana native, said he likes to be unique with gifts and to spend the day with the important people in his life.
“Enjoying Valentine’s Day depends on whether you are with someone,” he said.
Being unique in gift giving doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot on a plane ticket. It can mean handpicked flowers, homemade cookies and even a handmade card.
Murray Fortner, NE sociology/psychology/mental health chair, said time spent with the woman most meaningful to him is his idea of what a perfect Valentine’s Day should be.
Valentine’s Day is all about loved ones and making them feel cared for. The plans may result in a culinary mess, a handcrafted masterpiece or just some time with a loved one, but it is a holiday to be celebrated.
“The best gift you can give is time,” Fortner said, “given or received.”
