Where's cupid pointing his arrow?

My memory of Valentine's Day started young. When I was in Grade 2, I was playing catch and kiss before school with the kids in my class and this young boy with freckles on his face that I was madly in love with kissed me on my hand and asked me to walk behind the tree. I had butterflies in my stomach - I remember it vividly. Behind the tree was one single flower that he had taken from his Mother's garden. We giggled and he ran away.

Since then, I have had every form of Valentine's Day, with boyfriends in my life putting extra special thought into making the day memorable - which many have achieved because I think about it still now, years later.

The most special to me is when my long term boyfriend in my twenties who was one of the most thoughtful people I know, and a professional athlete at the time, worked a second job so I could not see money going out of our joint account, to buy me the diamond earrings that I still wear today. Of course, the week before, I had a massive fight with him over the fact that we were financially in a good position, so the idea of working a second job was ludicrous and 'why would he want to do that when he could spend time with me'. Of course, I cried when he handed me the gift (actually, he kind of threw it at me because I was giving him such a hard time).

He is a beautiful soul and one of the most amazing people I have ever met.

Another time, a man sent me small gifts all day from the moment I woke up to the time a designer dress arrived for me to wear to dinner that evening. A driver collected me and he took me to the most intimate french restaurant. The day was beyond perfect and I think about it fondly whenever I bump into him in the street.

Other times, I have been spoiled rotten with jewellery and once with one thousand red roses.

All of these memories are very special to me and as I woke up this morning, I feel blessed to have had some very romantic and thoughtful people in my life.

Today, I am not expecting so much but I have an amazing ex boyfriend who never forgets to send me roses on Valentine's Day even though he is now happily married. His thoughtfulness extends to the fact that I am unmarried and until the day I marry, he wants for me to fondly look back on the wonderful time we spent together and know that I am special even though life went in different directions for us both.

If you are man, think about the person who is special in your life. Even if you don't believe in Valentine's Day, it's sometimes nice to surprise people and let them know whether they are with you or not, that they mean something.

Mellissah Smith, in Atlanta