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On The Cover: Happy Valentine’s Day!ABy Caroline Turneyh, love! It’s the stuff of poetry andDay has become a time to celebrate the sweetness of love and friendship. Perhaps that’s why the delicious flavor of chocolate and the pleasant aroma of roses have become synonymous with the holiday.The desire to love and be loved is quite possibly the common denominator of all humanity. Greek origins of love outline several types ranging from physical toplatonic. While physical love is associated with attraction, platonic love is associated with selfless action.In essence, we don’t have to be in love in order to show love. It simply means that we act in the other person’s best interest. This Valentine’s Day, may we all experience the sort of love that cares for the wellbeing of others.legends. History is unclear as tothe origins of St. Valentine’s Day, other than documenting that Valentine was probably martyred for his faith. A popular account portrays him as a priest who married young lovers in secret (against the wishes of the Roman emperor).Whatever the beginnings, Valentine’s20 Years Later, We Re-met IBy Bobbie LaCombewent to high school with Tim, about 20 years before we “re-met.” In 2010, I threw myself a birthday party, and heshowed up at my door with a mutual friend and I almost fell over. In high school, he was a popular, good-looking, football player that everyone loved, and I was a reserved artist.Six months later I was recovering from back surgery, and realized my house needed renovations so I reached out by email since Tim was a contractor. I sent him a list of items that I needed bids on (or a referral, since he lived in Universal City). When he replied, “I can take care of all of your needs.” BAM just like that, I was back in high school, crushing on the football star!We dated for two years before eloping at Niagara Falls and have lived a beautiful life ever since.Celebrating Our 51st Wedding Anniversary This FebruaryABy Don Ahlgrenpril of 1971, as a newly promoted Army Spec4 I arrived at my new duty station. NORAD CombatOperations Center, deep inside the solid granite Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs. While my security clearance allowed me to work in my office, it did not clear me to move about the seven-building complex inside “the mountain”.One day my boss was called to a meeting offsite and arranged for someone to escort me to lunch. An Air Force Comm Specialist named Linda that he had also arranged as a blind date for the following Saturday night.My father died the next morning after that date and we didn’t see each other again until Labor Day. At that point we started dating exclusively and married the following February.This February we will be celebrating our 51st anniversary.From Friends to Forever By Kathi HolzschuherLove Story SubmissionsIAs time progressed, we became good friends. Unfortunately, we were both in less-than-favorable relationships and would often share our frustrations with one another. Soon, he encouraged me to end the relationship causing me so much turmoil. He broke off his, I ended mine, and before we knew it, we were in love! Our co- workers thought it would never last. We both have strong personalities, and they had been witness to just how strong.We’ve been married for 32 years, with two marvelous children and a love as strong as ever. He indeed was and is my knight in shining armor, loving me when it isn’t easy and never giving up.Selling Bottles Of WineStarted A Great Love Affair WBy Bill Librerainning 2nd place as a waitress selling bottles of wine started a great love affair. Winningtwo airline tickets, Nena flew to San Diego to celebrate the New Year (1997) with her best friend from Eagle Pass who was dating my roommate and childhood friend from Buffalo, NY. Nena and I hit it off immediately. Our personalities and my great cooking meshed perfectly. We continued our long- distance relationship.It wasn’t easy. Hours on the phone and lots of travel. At one point, Nena expressed doubts as she was about to board the plane in San Diego. I told her, “I’m not letting you go that easily.” Day after Thanksgiving, 1998, I proposed in Niagara Falls, NY. Married in San Antonio six months later. Three kids later, here we are living the dream! The combination of wine, food and charm was a hit. By the way, my friend/roommate also married Nena’s friend.t was an unlikely union, at best. Tom and I met at work, and my first words to him were less than kind.6www.stoneoakhighlights.comFebruary 2023