30 - Sunday, February 9, 1992 — North Shore News THE GIFT OF “MUSIC! This year give a... .-PERSONALIZED LOVE SONGI to your Valentine. UNFORGETTABLE! For a free demonstration fm CALL 270-4653 FLOWERS TEX & CARE We have that special something for your aaa? today! @ Lonsdale Horists Ltd. 1211 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver 980-5048 Sweet memories of Valentine’s past REMEMBERING VALENTINE’S Days past is near the . top of most people’s list of favorite things to do this week. And remembering special days of years gone by was the subject of the North Shore News Ah, Suite Romance contest. A diverse collection of letters were received, with Valentine's Days being marked with first meetings, weddings, births, and many romantic moments. The contest winner, Margaret Farr of West Vancouver, will receive the grand prize of a suite package from Waterfront Centre Hotel. Runners up Sharon Reynolds of West Vancouver and Leslie Robinson of North Van- couver will each receive a dozen roses from West Van Florist Ltd. As well, a special mention goes to Sheilagh Martin of North Van- couver, who will receive A Garland of Love, a book of daily reflections on the meaning of love, written by Daphne Rose Kingma, published by Conari Press and distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books. To read about these and other special Valentine's Day experi- ences, read on. - wv Frozer. roses from the heart Half a century later I still remember having a long box delivered by the post office from Weyburn, Saskatchewan to my home on Valentine’s Day. I opened it in a fever of an- ticipation, but my glow was cut short! There lay a dozen long- stemmed roses — frozen. Sadly, I looked at the card. “Thinking of you on Valentine’s Day, with love, Bill.”’ The roses were from a new ad- mirer, and the words melted my heart on a bitterly cold day. We were married a year later in my home city of Moose Jaw. And my favorite flower is still a rose. Margaret Farr West Vancouver y @ Love is never selfish One Valentine’s Day many years ago a beau and I were driv- ing through town to go to dinner. He had just given me a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers. Stopping at a crosswalk, my young man watched solemnly as an elderly, frail-looking bag lady slowly pushed a beat-up shopping cart across the street. With a wistful hope you under- stand look he gently took the flowers out of my arms, jumped out of the car and galiantly gave them to the woman. I had never loved anyone so much in my life as I did then. Sharon Reynolds West Vanconver e @ Cupid’s magic Each year that the day of hearts draws near, I am reminded of childhood school days when Feb- ruary 14th meant brown paper bags taped in a line across the front, under the chalkboard. At the end of the day’s lessons each child would approach the treasured sacks that had been fore with red hearts, lace and Cupid’s bows. Through the slot at the top, chubby little fingers would poke a card into each bag. When the procession was over, the teacher passed the bags out to the class. It was such a thrill to peek through the slot to see the jumble of colorful figures resting there. The tinkle of the teacher’s bell released us in a mad scramble for coats and boots and the one mit- ten that always seemed to have snapped from its string. Once outside in the cold and blustery Ontario winter, the distance from school to home was covered quickly. Inside the house and up to the privacy of my room, I carefully peeled back the tape that held the bag closed. I watched in delight at the cascade of vards onto my bed. The cards were arranged in little piles. It was expected there would be some replicas, after all, there was only one five and dime store in town. There was a very special Valen- tine this one year. It was hand-. made with care and edged with © real lace! I turned it over and printed in what I thought was a very mature ‘style was, ‘‘Will you marry me? ' Love Jackie Goode.” Jackie had stood beside me in the Valentine pageant the year be- fore. We played the Kiag:and -Queen of Hearts and marched around the stage with bugle boys trailing behind. In later years my husband, now, did propose to me on Valentine’s - Day while posed bent on one" See special page 34 painstakingly decorated days be- 5S5em tong ae FE ORDER OnLy Meet Your Special . _ Someone Renaissance Introductions Relationship Consultants for. marriage minded professionals Diamond Solttalre with Matching Band .37 ct, y 10K & 14K Heart Shape Lockets finely engraved Dykhof Nurseries Bird Cages 20% off Baby Love Birds $3999 460 Mountain Hwy. North Van. 985-1914 Bunny Starter Kits $6999 Asst. Baby Bunnies 20% Off NTRODT CTEONS with high standards 684-7441 information N Wed. Feb. 19 — 7:30 pm. Special Valentine’s Bouquets. We deliver or pick | up "as x Reptiles now in stock x % Baby Bunnies * Baby Hamsters « Baby Gerbils « Baby Cockatlels « Saby Budgies * Baby Lovebirds Sale ends Feb. 16/92 enovaty — Orth Shore Pet Foods ft: Hagen Quality Pet Products 1264 Marine Dr, NVan. (beside Save-On-Foods) 988-5012 988-5081 (Aquarium Dept) plush animals, | Balloon roses and novelties, custom-made fewellery fayaway plan insurance claims 1414 Lonedale Ave., North Van 984-4691 Pn 5) LAR Ta “F991 i Dr., NVan. 986-8787 (2 block east of Avalon Hotel)