6 readers share the most romantic gifts they’ve ever given or received
"It taught me to walk away from my desk and head out into the wonderful world we were creating together."
Depending on who you ask Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year or a holiday made up by Hallmark. But nevertheless, prayers from romancers who missed the mark were answered.
We recently asked Boston.com readers for the stories behind the most romantic gifts they have ever given or received. Some reader responses have stood the test of time, such as the same Valentine’s Day card with personal history for 35 years, while others are as simple as a list of 10 unique words. Ahead we share six readers’ stories on their most meaningful gifts.
Engraved vows
“My husband had his vows that he wrote to me engraved on a wood circle that looks like it was cut from a tree. It’s beautiful and hangs in our bedroom. This was the most romantic and beautiful gift I’ve ever received.” — Elaina, Hanson
10 words
“I love words and a couple of years ago I was gifted 10 words my friend thought I didn’t know but would love. It was the most thoughtful, generous, and special gift I’ve ever received. The time alone [was] spent searching not just for obscure words but ones with meanings I would love. #swoon” — Pamela C., Amesbury
A special alarm on a 1999 ‘electronic organizer’
“It was 1999 and I didn’t have a cell phone yet and my nonprofit salary wasn’t such that I’d be looking at Blackberries or Handsprings like my friends in finance. But that big quiet guy I’d just started dating bought me an ‘electronic organizer.’ He’d set it up for me, with all sorts of names of our friends and favorite places. And, apparently set the alarm. Every day at 5 p.m., my colleagues would remind me that the ‘someone loves you’ alarm was going off. It taught me to walk away from my desk and head out into the wonderful world we were creating together. February 14 is the 24th anniversary of our first solo date.” — Lynn F., Canton
Piano lessons
“Piano lessons when I was in college. I had always wanted to play and my future husband got them for me as a gift. I had nowhere to really practice, and I never became proficient. My off-campus piano teacher was rather stern and couldn’t understand why I would try to learn at age 20, but I persisted. That was 50 years ago. My incredibly thoughtful husband has passed away, and no gift I ever received has ever surpassed those lessons.” — A Boston.com reader
A Valentine’s Day card with history
“35 years ago I gave my wife a Valentine’s card and guess what she has been getting the same card for 35 years with a comment on what we were doing for Valentine’s Day! The card provides a history of Valentine’s Day for us. For example, when the kids were little we went to the Ground Round for ‘penny per pound’ dinner! Easy to remember now since it is on the card.” — Michael H., West Dennis
A piece of home made new
“My husband made me a beautiful arbor for a wedding gift. We had it where we were in New Hampshire and it moved with us to Massachusetts. We had some yard work done this summer and had to dismantle the arbor to move it. Turns out the ants had destroyed it from the inside. My husband was devastated. I asked him to save me some pieces and I would figure out what to do with them. I have been making stained glass for a few years now and was able to take the picture of us that he drew for our wedding announcement and enlarge it, added part of the arbor as it used to look and placed it in the setting of our wedding overlooking the Connecticut River Valley. A friend was able to create a frame for the piece with the wood from the arbor. I presented it to my husband this summer for our anniversary. I was able to make him tear up. It will forever be the best piece I have ever created and the outpouring of love on the day, and again at the presentation, will always be remembered when we look at it.” — Jennifer K., Worcester
Sometimes the most romantic gift can come from your no. 1, like Kristin in Worcestor County, who wrote, “My most romantic gift was a trip to Paris — which I gave myself!”
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