ast Valentine’s Day, the Mississippi River, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and Grand Canyon stood between Karla Hood and her fianc?e.
For the first time in five years, there were no red roses for Hood, a senior from Franklin, Tenn., to smell, no chocolates to taste, no new teddy bear to cuddle with – nothing.
Her only date was the television because her fianc?e Stephen Roos, a junior from Franklin, Tenn., was across the country in California training with the Marines before going to Iraq.
Roos spent the holiday doing his usual training operations for Iraq, which included waking up early, doing physical training and going to culture and counter-terrorism classes.
“I remember talking to Karla on the phone,” Roos said. “I felt bad for her, just that I couldn’t be there. I wish I could’ve been with her.”
But this Valentine’s Day, the couple will be together, soaking up every minute they have with each other.
“We’re not doing anything over the top,” Hood said. “We just want to be with each other. After him being gone for so long, I don’t take time for granted.”
Roos also said he just wants to spend time with his fianc?e and is grateful for his good fortune.
“I’m thankful for the simple fact that I made it back from war and get to spend another Valentine’s Day with Karla,” he said.
Plans for their day of love include a traditional Valentine’s evening, but only after Monday’s business is through.
“I have a test in my night class,” Hood said. “Then it’s dinner and exchanging gifts. I’ve been dropping hints for him to buy me ‘The Notebook.’”
Not all couples will be as fortunate this Valentine’s Day as Hood and Roos, though.
Many Western students will have to trade in kisses for classes, because their significant others won’t be in Bowling Green on Valentine’s Day.
Greenville freshman Josh DeArmond will be on campus while his girlfriend, high school senior Ashley Hendrix, will be in Central City on Feb. 14. But that won’t stop them from celebrating the holiday. They plan on recognizing it during the weekend before.
“It’s not too big of a deal,” he said. “The day doesn’t matter.”
What does matter is just being with the girl who means the most to him, DeArmond said.
Casey McDowell, a freshman from Newburgh, Ind., will also be spending Valentine’s Day away from his sweetheart Keshia Schnell, a high school senior from Newburgh.
Unlike DeArmond and Hendrix, though, they won’t get to celebrate together for a while.
“I’ll be here, plus it’s Keshia’s birthday three days later,” McDowell said. “We’ll celebrate a late Valentine’s Day and a late birthday when I go home in a couple of weeks.”
When he does go home, McDowell said he plans on cooking for Schnell and taking her to a movie.
But, when Feb. 14 does roll around, Schnell will have a surprise waiting for her.
“I’m sending flowers to her at school, and my brother is going to put a card in her locker,” he said. “I just want to show her how much I love her and how much she means to me.”
Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.
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