For some, February is the month for hearts, chocolate, and flowers. They're not always in that exact order, but the combination is usually there. I've never been much of a Valentine's Day kind of gal. "Black Heart Day" has always been my moniker for February 14th. The tradition of writing my name 60,000 times on brightly colored, over-priced cartoon cut-outs and handing them out to kids I'd just as soon dropped off the face of the planet wore off quickly. In high school, I preferred to play practical jokes on friends rather than send them a flower care of the student council or whatever group was fundraising that year. And as for gifts for my husband? Let's just say we allow the day to go past pretty much unnoticed.

I've received a lot of the standard Valentine's Day gifts over the years from boyfriends and pals: stuffed teddy bears bearing satin pillows embroidered with, "I love you;" extra-large size chocolate lips from Hershey's; overly sentimental Hallmark greeting cards; red/pink/white flowers; cardboard hearts filled with candy which TASTE like cardboard. The only gifts received on Valentine's Day which I thought were really of any use were the blank envelopes with no writing on them -- those I could recycle and send mail or bills in. But there were a few gifts over the years (mostly given BY me TO someone else) which were original . . . at least to the person who received them. (My favorite was the season tickets to hockey! What more could any guy ask for? Beer, blood, and a girl who loved the sport as much as he did?)

So . . . in light of my ponderous thoughts on Black Heart Day, I'm sponsoring a little contest for the most unusual Valentine gift given or received. Send your replies to: sorshaco@outpost10f.com and in March's Tribune we will announce the winner. (Prize will be sent snail mail and will correspond to your affiliation.)

In the meantime, here is our gift of love to the readership: small, unobtrusive, yet useful.

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