The one...the only...Valentine's Day.

I don't normally believe in Valentine's Day.  The way I see things, everyday should be about the people you love (especially THE person you love) - there shouldn't just be one Hallmark-induced day where men buy roses for the women and take them out to dinner.  It should be random and spontaneous, and should happen throughout the year.  Having said that, I did enjoy all the candy I used to get as a child through mandatory elementary-school-Valentine-exchanges!!

Anyway.  Joe knew that since he was my very first boyfriend, I had also never celebrated Valentine's Day before.  He had given me no hints of any Valentine's Day festivities, so I wasn't expecting anything, nor was I really looking for anything.  It was five days until the day of St. Valentine and I knew he would be working, so we had made low-key dinner plans for the 15th.  I drove him home after classes one day, and he asked me to open the trunk of my car.  Without allowing me to see, he placed something inside and told me that I couldn't look at it until I was home.  Intrigued, I kissed him goodnight and drove back to my house a little faster than usual.

I parked my car and opened the trunk.  Inside, lay a single white rose with a hand-written note reading "Dear Anika,  White represents purity.  You are beautiful, innocent and pure and I feel like I am a kid running around with muddy shoes on.  4 days...  xoxo, Joe".  It was sweet and we ICQ'd late into the night and I fell asleep with huge smile on my face!

The next morning, there was a note in my Students' Union mailbox.  I was to go see his good friend, who happened to be the VP: Finance.  When I went to see him, he was expecting me and handed me a package.  In it, a single orange rose with another hand-written note.  "Dear Anika, Orange represents friendship.  Our friendship is pure and wonderful.  I am so lucky to have you in my life and for us to have such an amazing friendship.  Thank you.  3 days... xoxo, Joe".  

Each day, I was left with a clue on where to find the next rose.  With three days to go, I found a single yellow rose.  The hand-written note said "Dear Anika, Yellow symbolizes happiness.  You make me incredibly happy and for that I am eternally grateful.  2 days... xoxo, Joe".

A single pink rose is what I found next.  The note read: "Dear Anika, Pink stands for admiration and sweetness.  You are an incredibly sweet girl whom I admire so much.  Thank you for being a part of my life.  1 day...xoxo, Joe".

On Valentine's Day, Joe and I didn't see each other.  But, a couple of clues had been left as to where I'd find my last rose.  When I found it, a single red rose lay next to a hand-written note.  "Dear Anika, A red rose symbolizes love.  What more do I need to say?  xoxo, Joe".

The following day, we celebrated our own Valentine's Day.  Joe had mixed a CD together for me, had made a lovely dinner (Wendy's baked potato with Campbell's Soup) and gave me a few small gifts he had purchased and knew I would love.  My first ever piece of jewelry (a silver chain, which I wear to this day as it has become a part of me), a Winnie-the-Pooh picture frame and a Disney Classics CD.  I gave him the photo collage I had been working on along with a few other small things I had made for him.  A fabulous evening that capped off an incredible first (and only) Valentine's.