Feeling the love every day of the year

It’s Valentine’s Day! If you’re treating your love to flowers, candy, a romantic dinner or beautiful card, you’re in the majority. 2024 is a leap year so there are 366 days to show someone you care. In a poll of friends, I asked what makes them feel loved every day of the year ...

Jackie Jameson, “My family and friends! I hit the jackpot!” Karoline Vargas gets a private concert from her husband, Alex, every day. Brandie Hanson says it is the little things and Cheryl Freeman’s husband brings her tea and a Biscoff every morning. For Willi Buerge, she feels the love from her kitty at feeding time. Laurie Sutton says she’s loved by a sweet man who leaves random little notes and helps around the house. Kathy Hlebichuk feels blessed to spend life with someone who loves her and makes her happy.

My sister, Ronna, feels the love when one of her children texts or calls for no reason. Every day of the year, Delraya Anstine is loved on by her dogs. Lynn Kohl’s response made me laugh. She was raised with four brothers so she feels loved when her hubs puts the toilet seat and lid down.

Diane Wahl finds love all year through God, grandbabies, family and friends. Peggy Turrell’s husband, Tim, does a dozen little things every day, promising that when she can no longer dress herself he'll dress her funny.

Ellen Gutowkski’s husband, Mike, makes her feel loved every day and Suzanna Spencer’s husband, Bob, gives her triple kisses before he heads out to work daily.

What makes Cynthia Pischner-Raynor feel loved? “Waking up above ground with food, clean water, indoor plumbing and shelter. Friends and family to love and be loved by, good health and beautiful surroundings makes a heart happy.”

Happy Valentine’s Day and beyond!

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My first Valentine was my dad and throughout his life, he never failed to give a card or candy to his daughters. It’s fun to receive candy and flowers and enjoy a nice dinner out but I’ve come to really value being loved 365 days out of the year. On Valentine's Day 1986, Bert arrived in Idaho from North Dakota to take a giant leap of faith to marry me and my three daughters a month later. He left his family and lifelong friends to make a life and a home here where I had family and lifelong friends. That’s love.

For 38 years, Valentine’s Day has held a special meaning for us. Celebrate love however it appears in your life. Celebrate today and every day if you’re blessed to be loved.

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Overshadowed in the hoopla of the Super Bowl game’s recap and Monday morning quarterbacking are placekickers, Jake Moody and Harrison Butker, of the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. Moody broke a Super Bowl record by kicking a field goal from 55 yards. But alas the record held until the next quarter when Butker made a 57-yard kick! What are the odds of the record being broken and then broken again in the same game?

So how much are placekickers paid? Rookie Moody gets $1.3 million annually and Butker, who’s played in all three of the Chiefs' Super Bowl victories in five years, makes $4 million.

Let’s hear it for special teams!

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Happy Valentines Day birthdays today to LaDonna Beaumont, Jason Hayes, Tripp Rogers, Jan McDaniels, Susan DuBois, Sarah Hansen, David Lunceford, Jean Bledsoe, Mike Shepperd, Kaelyn Bingham and Sarah Schell. Tomorrow, Joe Doellefeld, Mindy Hatcher, Tracy Dickinson, Jeff Conroy, Linda Jagars, Craig Smith, Art Sullivan, Sandi Hall and Donna Montgomery blow out the birthday candles. Dan Green, Stephanie Smith, Tom Thompson, Diana Farquhar, Adam Averill, Morgan Dickinson (18!), Bruce English, Quinn Kennedy and Jim Wilson will celebrate Friday. On Saturday, Mike Kennedy, Dorene Russell, Dewey Berndt, Helen Pischner (60!), Lisa Ortize, Steve Mills, Chuck Ethridge and Leslie Anne Spencer ring the birthday bell. On Sunday, McKinley Thomson, Jill Monroe, Steve Shepperd, Susie Bingham, Pershia Moser, Abbie Nowland and Diana Raugust take a spin on the birthday-go-round. Amy Boni, Teri Nipp, Kandi Johnson, Brock Bauman, Rebekah Newbry, Samantha Kraack, Helga Wernicke, Julia Jaworski and Rob Colvin share birthday celebrations Monday. Feb. 20 birthday cake is on the menu for Bette Price, Maycie Goodlander, Barb Eveland, Phil Romans and Jared White.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.