Hi neighbors. Do you think you'll enjoy Valentine's Day? I hope everyone gets a Valentine with some flowers, candy, or a special gift.

The jewelry stores sell a lot of expensive things this time of year, as do the florists. We women love receiving roses or diamonds or candy from a sweetheart.

It seems a bit one-sided, though, if a girl wants to get something for the guy in her life. Although some men like jewelry, many don't. A new watch is always good I suppose.

A romantic dinner out without the children is a gift both parents can enjoy. Hint: romantic usually means a quiet place (no jukebox) with atmosphere (no babies crying, no play area and no drive through) and tablecloths on the tables with (oh gosh!!) cloth napkins.

Both can enjoy an evening of dancing. Save the front row seats for professional sports events for another evening guys.

Mostly it's a day for sharing and showing you care with the special people in your life.

Traditionally Valentine's Day is for lovers, for romantic partners. There are various stories about how it evolved. One says the act of giving valentines symbolizes the love notes passed back and forth between two people interested in each other. St. Valentine (or a variation of that name) is often listed as the go-between who passed the notes.

Valentines have always been among the prettiest of early cards. Some older valentines have lace and delicate cutout designs. The intent, of course, is to demonstrate the amount of time and effort spent by the one desiring a valentine. The amount of detail in the card should reflect the lengthy hours the sender spent thinking of the one they adore.

Today's selection process can be as time consuming as making an original work of art. When you have to try to select the perfect card for each person you want to send a valentine, making the right choice can take a long time.

Of course, many of us have to take our tissues as some of the moving poetry inside the cards can make us cry with sentimentality.

Sentimental, heart-tugging cards are usually more popular than comical ones for Valentine's Day. Those for people no longer living at home can be the most tear jerking of all.

Like children who have moved away for college, work or marriage. Mother's always have to send Valentines to them to show how much they miss them. Often those Valentines talk of when they were children at home (those always give me the sniffles.) Next to an object of affection (boyfriend or girlfriend) the largest amount of Valentines are designed to appeal to children.

Cartoon characters, storybook heroes or heroines and animals are always popular with the pre-school and elementary grade children.

Pre-teens like the movie star Valentines comparing their affection to romantic stories, movies or a particularly handsome or beautiful actor, model, or rock star.

Teenagers often like the comical cards that send a light or humorous message. It's as if their interest in love is something they want to approach cautiously. Or if they want to display only a casual interest in the whole love scenario. They might like the "secret admirer" cards more than any "mushy" ones.

Older teens are often awash with the intensity of being in love. They struggle to find words to share the depth of their feelings for their love interest. Cards with flowery, and often lengthy, poems are the ones they select.

Of course, every age group has the famous "for my teacher" card.

For shoppers in a hurry there are specific Valentine title-sensitive selections including (but certainly not limited to) for Mom, Dad, daughter, son, grandchild, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, grandparent, in-laws of all degrees.

Parents usually give what I call "warning" humor cards to their children according to their ages.

These cards can describe a parents desire for the child to clean their room, walk the dog, do their chores, call home regularly, study hard, or hug their parents more often. Like most of the modern cards from parents to children of all ages, many of the Valentines offer a pocket to hold cash gifts. Usually the older the child, the more sentimental the card from their parent -- and vice-versa.

Some of the sweetest and dearest Valentines come from grandchildren. Often homemade, sometimes embellished with spilled milk stains or an errant cookie crumb, these works of art are all destined for refrigerator display and scrapbook pages.

Until the next time friends remember; what smells better than a rose and taste better than chocolate? A good cup of coffee shared with someone you love of course!