There are men who are gifted in the art of giving thoughtful, incredibly romantic gifts to the women in their lives.

At the other end of the spectrum are the guys who wait with bated breath to see her expression as she rips the wrapping paper off those charming cordless drills.

Although Michelle Brown's boyfriend leaned toward useful gifts, she married him anyway. She reports that he has progressed from bath rugs and nose sprays to theater tickets.

"He gives me a bad one and I get upset, and the next time he redeems himself," Michelle Brown said.

Their 10th anniversary is coming up in September. Michelle is expecting a gift to remember.

"And it better be a good one," she said.

Brad Brown might not be the biggest romantic on earth, but he has his good points.

"He's a very practical man, but he's the most wonderful husband and father," she said. "I wouldn't trade him in, that's for sure."

Michelle is one of the readers who responded to a request to tell about their best and worst Valentine's Day gifts. Here's what she wrote:

On Feb. 14, 1992, my boyfriend invited me to his parents' home for a beautiful candlelit dinner. In the living room he had placed a card table covered with a white linen tablecloth, in front of-;a roaring fire in the fireplace.

We enjoyed the evening together, sipping on wine. For dinner, he presented me with a-;handmade pizza in the shape of two entwined hearts. The-;evening ended with him bringing me a beautifully wrapped large box.

I was extremely excited and anxious to open it. I just knew that this was going to be the night that he proposed to me. The box was-;extremely heavy, unlike the weight of the engagement ring that I was imagining inside. I carefully unwrapped the gift. I had to hold back the tears when I laid my eyes upon-;a-;CASE of motor oil!

I was driving a beat-up Ford with a cracked engine block that required a lot of oil. I went home crying. I was very disappointed and hurt. I have-;now accepted the fact that my dear husband of almost 10 years was-;only being his practical self. I wasn't making much money and needed my car to get back and forth to work each day.

I-;will never forget that beautiful yet sad evening. I have since learned to-;give him-;a very detailed-;"gift-giving idea" list before each holiday! I have had several other disappointing gifts over the years, but that is just Brad being Brad. Nothing but practical! He makes up-;for his lousy gifts with his care and love for me and our children. I do love him dearly.

- Michelle Brown, Decatur

Here are other responses from readers. (Some have been edited.)

Silent visitor

When my husband and I were dating, he talked the receptionist at my workplace into letting him come back to my office space. He came in silently. When I turned around, he was standing there with a beautiful bouquet and the sweetest smile. I was bowled over. He kissed me, wished me a happy Valentine's Day, and then he was gone. According to my co-workers, the smile on my face lasted the entire day.

- Linda Park, Decatur

Is this all there is?

When I was a sophomore in high school (about 1953), my boyfriend gave me a box of chocolates … that were half gone! I don't know if the box had originally belonged to his mother or if he decided to sample them first. But to his credit, there was a valentine handerkerchief lining the bottom (and only) layer of candy. Ahhh … true love!

- Harriett Wall, Decatur

Young love

I had known Harold Garmon since age 4, when he was 12. He asked me to marry him Feb. 14, 1947. I was standing on the back porch steps in the snow. I was 15 and he was 22. I was 16 on March 31, and we were married April 26, 1947. That was the greatest gift of all.

We were blessed with six children, three girls and three boys. We had almost 49 years together. He passed away Dec. 17, 1995.

I have 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren to love with all my heart.

- Lula Garmon, Lovington

Timely words

It was 2 a.m. on Valentine's Day, 2005. This day was very special, for my husband was gravely ill. He had been sick since 1997, suffering from strokes on both sides of his brain and from multiple seizures. Now we were dealing with him having Parkinson's disease. He couldn't walk and was finally unable to talk.

On this early morning, I went in to turn him and prop the pillows behind his back. As I turned on the light he was looking at the door, as if waiting for me to come. I heard a voice say, "I know you are tired."

I realized it was coming from my darling husband. I hadn't heard his voice in two months. I planted the biggest kiss on his lips and said, "Thank you, Jesus." I told him I loved him and I said, "Happy Valentine's Day, baby." He smiled at me, and with a blink of my eyes, he was asleep again.

One week later, he started panting, and it looked as if he was leaving us. I started saying, "I love you, I love you," and he said with his almost last breath, "I love you, too."

The ambulance came, and he died at the hospital.

The best Valentine's gift was just to hear my beloved's voice and to see him smile one more time.

- Shirley Bates, Decatur

A love seat?

Just have to tell you about the first Valentine my husband gave me. We were living in this dippy little apartment, and he came in with a toilet seat all wrapped in a red bow and said "Happy Valentines Day!" My look must have said volumes because then he said, "Well, it is heart-shaped." But the real kicker came later when I found out that he was reimbursed from the landlord.

I must admit that this year promises to be much better. Instead of a toilet seat, I am getting a whole new kitchen. This may be the year he redeems himself.

- Sheila Reed, Decatur

Laughs and roses

In my 79 years, I have had many delightful Valentine's Days, but a couple stand out.

After my first husband died, I saw a lot of a man who was a joy to be around, but for many reasons we knew we would never let our relationship progress to anything more than friendship. Nonetheless, we took great care in selecting cards and gifts for each other. One year, we both expressed that we had been looking for valentines that were just right. We exchanged cards and opened the envelopes to whoops of laughter. We had each selected the identical card for the other. That's soul mates.

The other was as romantic as you can get. My birthday falls near Valentine's Day, and I had just turned 18. The florist delivered 18 gorgeous long-stemmed roses to my dorm room at Millikin. I looked for a card but did not find one. I called the florist to identify the giver. He said he didn't have a clue who he was. I floated on a pink cloud for days. Did I ever find out who sent them? I'll never tell.

- Eunice Gingrey, Decatur

Turnabout

Back in the 1960s, we were pretty strapped for cash, as were a lot of our generation. We had five sons, and the house needed guttering. So my darling husband bought the guttering, then announced he had no money for a gift. Since we mothers are great at accepting such sacrifices, I smiled sweetly and told him it was OK.

But I was already planning his Father's Day gift. He would receive an automatic washer. After all, I had five sons to keep clean plus my loving husband's clothes.

We have had a lot of good laughs about the guttering and washer over the years. When we were in Branson, Mo., a few years ago, this story got me on stage with Yakov Smirnoff, the comedian.

- Rosetta Henderson, Decatur

Late for Halloween?

In 1990, I taught preschool in the old White School in rural Oreana. It was Valentine's Day. The children and I were involved in Valentine activities when the door opened and a cupid messenger walked in with a helium spider balloon, with eight wiggly legs. This Valentine spider hovered at the height of the 3- and 4 year-olds.

The spider spent the day with the preschoolers. The helium let the spider hover around the room as if it had its own personality. As the eight-legged visitor circulated throughout the room, the children communicated with it as if it were one of them.

I will never forget this surprise valentine sent to me from my family. It touched so many hearts.

- Jeanne Helm, Decatur

Huey Freeman can be reached at hfreeman@herald-review.com or 421-6985.