From the early 1950s onward we were inseparable. We recognized in one another our life's destiny, to be together forever. The early years were one of juvenile social cultivation focused on our early selection, he of me and me of him. Our lives became meaningful when we did things together, had shared experiences, explored ourselves and the world around us. Married in 1955, this is just what our future realized, from the time we were children to the present, a devoted and loving pair who value life with one another, our marriage now of over sixty years' duration.

When we were children and Valentine's Day came around it was marked with a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a piece of inexpensive jewellery; some trinket or another; usually one-way-directed, and it was a delightful, unpretentious event. Occasionally it would be marked by a social event that would take us out to see a film or to go dancing at a social hall. Sometimes with friends, sometimes not.

This was well before we balked at the bald commercialization of recognized social events and the price tags that invariably came with their recognition. And then, almost before we noticed the years passing, there were three small children for whom the event could be made over into a colourful and happy occasion with the cutting out of cartoon shapes, crayon colouring and eventually doling them out to school classmates.

When it became not only a commercial occasion but a popularity contest we drew back from the occasion with nothing less than fastidious distaste. Long since then there has been sporadic recognition on our part of this popular but unfortunately celebrity-facade event, translated into an occasion we could find more palatable, as a private little joke between ourselves. We seldom exchange anything in recognition of the day between us, though we haven't been entirely averse to doing so with others on the rare occasion.

But like all such popular events when people are enthused about being nice to one another and displaying rare attitudes of kindness and care for one another, we step back from involvement. What should be natural has become a popularity contest, a buy-in of social-commercial manipulation. It is a matter of of subjective taste, of course that we find it pitiful that people need to be reminded of our civil and charitable obligations to those closest to us.

We find it far more congenial to our personal values that we appreciate one another every minute of every day and demonstrate our love and gratitude in full measure through meaningful, constant small ackowledgements that include smiles, hugs and snuggles, kisses and genuine enquiries of one another equating with love and care.