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COUPLES OF ALL AGES READY FOR ANOTHER VALENTINE'S DAY
By Lauren Puglisi
 | | Photo By Lauren Puglisi Robert Viscomi an employee of the American Greetings store in Ocean County Mall posed with a Valentine's Day stuffed animal. |
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Candlelit dinners, red roses and chocolate candies are just a few of the things that come to mind for those that truly enjoy Valentine's Day.
Newly in love teenage girls spend much of their time leading up to the big day, planning extravagant events and buying one-of-a-kind presents, with the hopes of marking some of the most memorable Valentine's Days of their high school lives.
Cecilia Cosgrave, a 16-year-old junior at Brick Township High School, said this Valentine's Day will be much different to the ones before because this year, she will actually be celebrating it.
"Well to be honest, I used to hate Valentine's Day for no reason. I guess I just thought the whole idea of it was so dumb but now that I have a boyfriend this year,
we will probably go out and do
something nice," Cosgrave said, "For now, I've just been having
a really hard time figuring out what I should get him."
Christiana Gill, an employee at American Greetings in Ocean County Mall, said during the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, their moderately small store gets extremely packed.
"People of all ages that don't initially know what to get their loved ones come into the store, and usually find something," Gill said. "They are always asking my advice on what cards I like. Sometimes, it gets a little awkward how intimate the questions get. A lot of husbands come in and say stuff like: If you were my wife, would you like this card?"
Valentine's Day is not just for young lovers either, as 72- year-old Lance Zimmerman, of Manchester, can attest. As his wife, Sarah, shopped for clothes, Zimmerman took a seat waiting for her.
"Me and my wife have seen many, many Valentine's. I haven't missed one," he said of his 46 years of marriage. "I got to tell you, it really hasn't changed much either. When we first were together back in the day, she like getting a beautiful necklace, watch, earrings, you name it, and with some nice roses, it always made her day … today is no different. The jewelry changes," he said, but little else.
When time passes and people grow older, couples that have been together for many years find the simplest comfort in of having someone special to spend the holiday with.
"I love to love. I've been with my boyfriend for a long time and I think Valentine's Day is the one day where people can not only express their love to one another, but celebrate the special gift that they share, which is a gift that a lot of people fight their whole life to find," said Karissa Farber, a resident of Brick Township and executive at principal asset staffing company.
As time nears closer to the day of the year devoted fully to love, stores in the area have become filled with stuffed animals and red heart balloons.
But not all shoppers necessarily find themselves with a warm happy feeling inside at the very thought of Valentine's Day.
Leah Cole, a Toms River resident and Assistant Buyer at B&B Department Stores, jokingly said, "I think Valentine's Day is a holiday invented by Hallmark. It makes the lovers poor and the lonely miserable. Now that I've grown up, I feel like I should be treated like its Valentine's Day every day and that will be when I know I'm satisfied with the relationship I am in."
According to Robert Viscomi, another employee at American Greetings in Toms River, Anti-Valentine's Day Cards are funny, to the point and are becoming very well received amongst the younger generations.
"For me, Valentine's Day is not that big of a deal, but I do think it's pretty cool that we sell Anti-Valentine's Day cards. They are actually really funny and some of our top sold cards."
Staff writer Keith Hagarty contributed to this story.
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