Celebrities and Valentine's Day
PUSSS...@aol.com
HAPPY Valentine's Day. Take an old lover to lunch.
It being Valentine's Day, I asked Drew Barrymore - Hugh Grant's love
in "Music and Lyrics," which opens today - about her first crush.
"Ohhhboy do I remember my first boyfriend," she grinned. "I'll never
forget him. I was really young. It was grade school. I kept looking at
him because I liked him so much. Once, when he passed close by, I
quickly, nervously threw a love letter into a nearby garbage pail. And
when he disappeared and was not looking anymore, I went into that
garbage and retrieved it. He broke my heart."
A least I think that's what she said. She was stunning in perfectly
ironed hair, Louboutin spikes, tailored white gown. But jeweler
Stephen Dweck's mother-of-pearl-still-on-the-half-shell-oyster
necklace filling her whole chest was so great I couldn't take my eyes
off it. My ears either. So I retained little else. Considering Drew
was promoting "Music and Lyrics," I thus asked the only intelligent
question: "Can you keep the necklace?" She giggled: "Probably not."
About Hugh Grant's first love I don't know. About his current one,
Jemima Khan, I know. She's gorgeous. Also rich and refined. At least
too rich and refined for columnists. Hugh carefully handed her off to
aides to guard her while we talked about his movie, wherein he plays a
washed-up performer.
So what will you do when . . . , I began. "You mean when I, too, am a
has-been?" he finished. "I'll tell you. I know what I'll do. I will
not try to get into other aspects of entertainment. I'll write a book.
I've always yearned to do that. Not an autobiography. I sort of fancy
I might actually be able to create fiction. So I shall sit in my
cardigan in my shed in my garden and write."
BACK to Valentine's Day. Hugh Dancy. This Brit's all over like crab
grass. On Broadway at the Belasco in the heavy-duty "Journey's End."
In the new even heavier-duty film "Beyond the Gates," which is about
genocide in Rwanda and had a Core Club VIP screening. So, Hugh, hon,
remember your first ladyfriend?
"I was maybe 6. She was my schoolteacher. One day I stood up from my
little chair and told her I loved her." And her impassioned reaction?
"She said, 'Thank you. Sit down.' "
We discussed a story about him in Hollywood hugging Claire Danes and
the next night kissing screenwriter Michael Cunningham in a lobby. "
'True' is not the first word that comes to mind about that story," he
said. "I am, however, seeing Claire. And today I live in New York,
downtown, which I love. My home was London, where I've since locked up
and left a very messy apartment. I could live forever in New York."
About Rwanda: "A very beautiful country where I ate like a king with
no intestinal experiences afterward. The dish fufu, however, I didn't
understand. It's a doughy cassava-type substance like mashed potatoes,
and you eat with your finger, and I guess is the quickest if not most
pointless way of filling your stomach. But I loved the people. I've
been back to visit and hope to return again."
Wesley Snipes' best pickup line was "Hi, I'm Eddie Mur phy." . . .
James Woods: "I asked a good-looking lady to get my Congressional
Medal of Honor, which had just fallen under her table. She laughed and
it worked." . . . Kenneth Branagh actually hid in a dustbin to see one
gal. Unfortunately, the dustbin rolled over as the object of his
desire walked by . . . David Schwimmer told something called Smug
magazine, "One guy in a bar licked his finger, then touched a girl's
shirt, then said, 'Hey, baby, how about we get out of these wet
things.' " . . . Ethan Hawke told Webster Hall's Baird Jones: "To pick
up chicks, I memorized the first 20 pages of 'Catcher in the Rye.'
" . . . Mark Wahlberg remembers being in a car asking girls in another
car for directions. They said, 'Where to?" He said, "Your
house." . . . Jordan Bratman's proposal was innovative. He sent
Christina Aguilera on a scavenger hunt, and a series of clues led to
an engagement ring.
Billy Crystal's wife, Janice, proposed to him in her parents'
driveway. And romantic Billy said, "OK." . . . Robert Redford proposed
to his wife via payphone . . . Robin Wright, after splitting up a
dozen times with Sean Penn, said on their 13th reunion, "Want to get
married?" whereupon he said, "Yeah." . . . James Keach popped the
question to Jane Seymour when "I was playing a man on 'Dr. Quinn' for
one scene, was wearing men's clothes and had stubble on my chin. Not
the best moment." . . . Patty Hearst figures her parents hadn't faith
in her marriage to bodyguard Bernard Shaw "because their gift was a
Sears vacuum."
Happy Valentine's Day, kiddies.
* * *
The 100 Greatest Love Songs
By JIM FARBER/NY DAILY NEWS MUSIC CRITIC
Some may find them smug, or sappy, or overplayed. But the songs here
have probably made more lovers misty than any music in memory. So how
did we go about compiling this list of all-time hand-holding odes?
Eligible songs had to have endured at least a decade in the public
consciousness, if not two or three. And they had to have been popular
enough to have ranked among the top 20 pop songs in whatever year they
were released.
These aren't necessarily the sexiest songs. If they had been, you'd
see cuts by James Brown and Prince. But they are all classic serenades
to a love achieved, the kind of songs meant to make listeners swoon.
1. "My Girl" The Temptations
2. "I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
3. "Wonderful Tonight" Eric Clapton
4. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder
5. "You Are So Beautiful" Joe Cocker
6. "In My Life" The Beatles
7. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack
8. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Elvis Presley
9. "Michelle" The Beatles
10. "I Can't Stop Loving You" Ray Charles
11. "Best of My Love" The Emotions
12. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Simon & Garfunkel
13. "All I Have to Do Is Dream" The Everly Brothers
14. "You've Got a Friend" Carole King
15. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" Roberta Flack
16. "To Sir With Love" Lulu
17. "Sherry" The Four Seasons
18. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen
19. "Unchained Melody" The Righteous Brothers
20. "Save the Last Dance for Me" The Drifters
21. "Stay" Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
22. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" Carole King
23. "Up on the Roof" The Drifters
24. "He's So Fine" The Chiffons
25. "I Will Follow Him" Little Peggy March
26. "Chapel of Love" The Dixie Cups
27. "My Guy" Mary Wells
28. "Happy Together" The Turtles"
29. "Back in My Arms Again" The Supremes
30. "I Got You Babe" Sonny and Cher
31. "My Love" Petula Clark
32. "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" The Righteous Brothers
33. "I Will Always Love You" Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston
34. "When a Man Loves a Woman" Percy Sledge
35. "Reach Out I'll Be There" The Four Tops
36. "Strangers in the Night" Frank Sinatra
37. "Baby Love" The Supremes
38. "This Guy's in Love With You" Herb Alpert
39. "Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet" Henry Mancini
40. "Higher Love" Steve Winwood
41. "Sugar Sugar" The Archies
42. "The Long and Winding Road" The Beatles
43. "Close to You" The Carpenters
44. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross
45. "Let's Stay Together" Al Green
46. "Heart of Gold" Neil Young
47. "Here, There and Everywhere" The Beatles
48. "Lean on Me" Bill Withers
49. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder
50. "Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye
51. "Midnight Train to Georgia" Gladys Knight
52. "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand
53. "Love's Theme" The Love Unlimited Orchestra
54. "Feel Like Makin' Love" Roberta Flack
55. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe" Barry White
56. "Then Came You" Dionne Warwick and the Spinners
57. "Lovin' You" Minnie Ripperton
58. "Shining Star" Earth Wind & Fire
59. "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" Marilyn McCoo and
Billy Davis Jr.
60. "How Deep Is Your Love" The Bee Gees
61. "You're the One That I Want" John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
62. "Love You Inside Out" Bee Gees
63. "Come On Eileen" Dexys Midnight Runners
64. "Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper
65. "Crazy for You" Madonna
66. "Take on Me" a-ha
67. "Moon River" Henry Mancini
68. "With or Without You" U2
69. "Vision of Love" Mariah Carey
70. "Kiss From a Rose" Seal
71. "Girl" The Beatles
72. "Chelsea Morning" Joni Mitchell
73. "P.S. I Love You" The Beatles
74. "Just Like a Woman" Bob Dylan
75. "Do You Believe in Magic?" The Lovin' Spoonful
76. "Still in Love With You" Al Green
77. "Somewhere" Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein
78. "On the Street Where You Live" From "My Fair Lady"
79. "Saving All My Love for You" Whitney Houston
80. "Always on My Mind" Willie Nelson
81. "Crazy" Patsy Cline
82. "Sexual Healing" Marvin Gaye
83. "Do You Want to Dance?" Bette Midler
84. "Fever" Peggy Lee
85. "Last Dance" Donna Summer
86. "Just the Way You Are" Billy Joel
87. "Songbird" Fleetwood Mac
88. "You Make Loving Fun" Fleetwood Mac
89. "At Last" Etta James
90. "All I Want" Joni Mitchell
91. "Natural Woman" Aretha Franklin
92. "A Man and a Woman" Anita Kerr Singers
93. "Someone to Watch Over Me" Linda Ronstadt
94. "Some Enchanted Evening" From "South Pacific"
95. "Do You Love Me?" From "Fiddler on the Roof"
96. "Alison" Elvis Costello
97. "How Can I Tell You" Cat Stevens
98. "Have I Told You Lately" Van Morrison
99. "When I Fall In Love" Nat King Cole
100. "Oh Girl" The Chi-Lites
* * *
How to pick a 'just right' token
Once a joyful gesture, giving gifts for Valentine's Day has become as
fraught as anything in these anxious (and commercialized) times. Is
this gift enough? Is it too much? USA TODAY's Maria Puente consults
relationship experts Elina Furman and Caroline Tiger for guidance.
Flowers
One or two dates: "Try a single flower plus a reservation for
dinner,"says Furman, author of the new Kiss and Run:The Single, Picky
and Indecisive Girl's Guide to Overcoming Her Fear of Commitment
(Fireside, $13). It's "a nice way of saying 'we're still getting to
know each other,' rather than a declaration."
Dating for months: "By now you should know what she likes," says
Tiger, author of the new How to Behave: Dating and Sex: A Guide to
Modern Manners for the Socially Challenged (Quirk, $14.95). "Get
something with an elegant arrangement or exotic flowers - a luxury
bouquet," Furman says.
Long-term committment: "Try the Flowers of the Month Club, which is a
way of saying, 'I want you in my life so here's a whole year of
flowers for you,'" Furman says.
Sweets
One or two dates: "Cupcakes are really hot right now," Tiger says.
"It's playful and flirtatious, it says, 'I'm having fun' instead of 'I
loveyou.'" Other safe options: gummy bears, jelly beans, a big
lollipop.
Dating for months: "Go to an artisanal chocolate maker and get
something really special," Tiger says. "For a guy, try rum-infused
chocolates."
Long-term committment: "They're beyond the sweet stage, the freshman
dating," Tiger says. "Maybe they make chocolate-chip pancakes, or
visit a chocolate shop for a cup of hot chocolate."
Something personal
One or two dates: "Don't. It's risky. They might be offended that
you're already thinking that way when you may not have gone beyond a
kiss," Furman says. A better idea: "Treat them to nice dinner at a
more romantic restaurant than what you've been going to," Tiger says.
"It's not a total departure from your (relationship) to this point."
Dating for months: "Lingerie is really fun if you don't want to say
just yet that you're committed - something playful like red silk
boxers," Furman says.
Long-term committment: "Something high quality -say, a Hermès or
Chanel scarf," Furman says. "Or a designer bag or wallet. A beautiful
cocktail ring."
* * *
Warm hands, warm hearts, treasured times
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY
When Valentine's Day dawns Wednesday, loved ones everywhere will revel
in candy, flowers and flowery notes.
But sweet signs of love in action can turn up any day and linger in
the heart for a lifetime.
So said USA TODAY readers who were asked to share tales of romantic
gestures in their lives.
Inventive marriage proposals were among the many highlights in more
than 200 e-mails and letters; but the top score on the romance meter,
cited by 23% of respondents, goes to love notes. Notes hidden in the
house, the hotel, the luggage or the lunchbox. Notes with poems, and
and at least one love note, writ large, that backfired.
Many fellows turned to flowers, daily, weekly or monthly, to mark
their love. But sometimes it's the silly secret ritual, thoughtful act
or the sentimental gift that hits home.
A sampling of readers' stories:
Inventive engagement capers
·Treasure map: "My girlfriend Jill thought it was odd when a tube-
shaped package with no return address arrived in the mail. After
cautiously opening the package, Jill removed a scroll containing a map
of familiar coastline of a nearby beach. Once on the beach, Jill
unearthed a small treasure chest buried exactly where the "X" on the
worn parchment suggested. As I knelt down to watch Jill open the
chest, I could see the amazed look on her face when she discovered a
sparkling diamond ring inside. It was then, during a spectacular
Pacific sunset, that Jill agreed to marry me. "Jill and I will
celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary in July. We have two beautiful
children, Leah (age 8) and Scott (age 6)." - Jeff Cole, Ladera Ranch,
Calif.
·Sky-diver: "My boyfriend (now husband) has been an avid skydiver for
many years and was on the team that set the 400 person world record
skydive in Thailand in 2006. The skydivers I met were always so happy
and carefree I decided, even though I was afraid, to give it a try.
Lee had never asked me to jump, saying it was a personal decision, and
he seemed to love me in spite of my landlocked status. I planned to
surprise him by making a jump during one of his training weekends, but
the word leaked out and he planned a big surprise for me instead. "I
should have guessed that not every student jumper gets a lengthy video
interview, two girls fussing over my hair and outfit, three
professional photographers and an entourage of friends who took a
break from their training to jump with me. Being in freefall was
amazing. I am a landscape artist and I was feeling completely part of
the sky that I had painted so often. Imagine my shock when Lee dropped
down in front of me, almost two miles above the earth, holding a
banner that said "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Multiple fist pumps and thumbs
up answered him and, as I landed, he met me on bended knee with a
diamond ring and champagne. Susan Mayfield Hunnicutt, Charleston,
S.C.
·Almost successful: "When I was 18 and had just graduated high school,
I worked for a short stint at Truitt Brothers cannery in Salem, Ore.,
graveyard shift picking the tops off green beans on a conveyor for 11-
hour shifts. I did this to raise money to move out of my house, and my
boyfriend at the time kindly decided to work there too to keep me
company. I saved enough money and moved out of town to college. My
boyfriend came to my new house one day on his motorcycle with roses,
and a can of green beans. I was really irritated ... never wanting to
see beans again. I opened them up, and inside was almond roca (my
favorite candy) and a box with a ring ... he had them specially canned
for me. "It was so sweet and thoughtful, although we broke up shortly
after, I will never forget this. - Melissa Burr, Newberg, Ore.
·Traveling turtles: "My relationship with my boyfriend, Michael,
started over a long distance. We often joked about having turtles dig
a tunnel from his home in Dothan, Ala., to mine in Atlanta. We
reasoned that the tunnel would move Michael here faster, eliminating
our eight-hour drives. However, because they were turtles, it was
taking a while. Months later, on Valentine's Day, I found little paper
turtles set up around his room, each carrying a little message of
love. Michael later e-mailed me a cartoon of the turtles, explaining
their story, and nine months later, he made the move to be with me." -
Robin Yamakawa, Atlanta
·Love from Iraq: "Last year, my husband, Tony, was quickly and
unexpectedly deployed to Iraq. "Despite the many arrangements he had
to make in a short time, I soon found out that he also pre-arranged
for flowers to be delivered to me each month during the time he was
gone. Each attached card was prewritten in his own handwriting and
numbered so the flower shop would send them in the right order! This
thoughtful and romantic gesture meant a part of him was with me for
each important (and not so important) event while he was away. - Lauri
Michael, Albuquerque
·Dinner ready: "I had picked up a second job for the holidays. All
month I wanted to come home, enjoy dinner with my boyfriend with our
Christmas lights lit. Exhausted from the long days pulling doubles, I
walked in the house and he was dressed in a suit and tie, had made me
a chicken pot pie from scratch, and was playing the mix CD I made him
on Valentine's Day, all with our Christmas lights lit. It still makes
me smile, knowing that he took the time to listen to me and give me
the relaxing evening that I needed." - Devon Martin, Fall River, Mass.
·Fresh air: "Last September I had to work out-of-state for four days
and our first year of dating anniversary fell during this time. We
promised to celebrate when I returned, but my boyfriend had other
secret plans. Ben spent his evenings at my house ripping out my old
bedroom carpet and installing a wood floor. The old blue carpet had
triggered my allergies and was making me sick every morning. When I
returned, the floor was finished and Ben had placed Gerbera daisies on
my bedside table. It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for
me, and I've been healthier ever since. -Lisa Behrns, Lincoln, Neb.
·Bath time: "Running on empty, I just wanted to soak in a hot bath.
Since our daughters are old enough to be safe in the tub (especially
with my husband checking on them), I filled them a bubble bath to make
sure they'd leave me alone. Finally my turn, I slipped into a tubful
of tepid water. Near tears, I realized I'd emptied the hot water tank
for the kids. Then my husband appeared with a saucepan full of hot
water. Tending four pots at a time on the stove, he filled up my bath
with so much water, so much warmth. - Cathy Howland, Wexford, Pa.
·Rain in a bottle: "When trying to reconcile with my then-girlfriend
and now wife of 7+ years, I spent the night in a rain storm collecting
rain in a bottle. I then presented it to her. It remains on a
bookshelf in our bedroom today." - Kevin Miller, Omaha
·Salad swap: "My husband hates cucumbers in his salads but I still
sneak them in.' Why do you insist'? he asks. I tell him. 'Because I
love you and want you to eat more vegetables.' 'I love you back, but I
don't want any cucumbers.' he says, as he tosses the cucumber into my
bowl. From then on, every salad we have has this ritual, although
silent. And after 20 years, I still put one symbolic cucumber in his
salad and he gives it back with a smile and a wink and we both know we
are saying 'I love you.' - Rhonda Carr, North Huntingdon, Pa.
·Warm car: "My fellow and I met on a blind date five years ago. He had
lost his wife to lung cancer, I was divorced. He wooed me with
wonderful dinners and romantic evenings. I moved into his home two
years ago. Since then, he has taken me on many great trips (in cars,
boats and motorcycles). He has won my heart with his kind and generous
ways, but the sweetest thing he does is this: when it is really cold
outside, he starts my car for me and gets it warm, and before I leave
he hands me my gloves that he has warmed on the HOUSE radiator. Now,
that is love. - Jana Andrews, Memphis, Tenn.
·Sweet scent: "When my husband & I were dating he was a single father,
with custody of his son, and did not have a lot of extra money. So for
Valentines, he and his son went the the Mall ( my husband hates to
shop) and went to all the perfume counters and asked for samples of
perfume. He fixed them all up and gave them to me for Valentines Day.
This meant so much to me, knowing how much he hated to shop. We have
now been married 18 years and he is still the light of my life. -
Alice Winkie, Louisville
·Cat in the hat: "My husband died in October, 2006. We would have been
married 60 years in March, 2007. I learned early in our marriage that
I had truly chosen the right man. This is the story. "I loved to play
with the landlady's cat and one day she said a neighbor would give me
a kitten. I told her that since we had to move a lot with my husband's
job, I didn't think I could take the kitten. She said she would take
the cat when we had to move. I told my husband, of about eight months
what she said, but he had never had a cat and was not too
enthusiastic, but agreed to go to the neighbor's and see the kittens.
We visited the cats and I played with them until one kitten crawled in
my lap and went to sleep. My husband then decided that the kitten
could come live with us. While we were walking home, the kitten still
asleep, my husband took off his hat - and you don't mess with a
Texan's hat - put his pocket handkerchief inside and placed the kitten
in the hat. ..." - Marce Lucke
·5,000+ Valentines: "We may have found each other later in life, but
we have been blessed with each other, and are truly soul mates. Every
morning for the last 15 years, my husband has started the day by
giving me a vintage Valentine! You can imagine how many I have over
these 15 years. (Even when he goes out of town, he sets aside a
Valentine for me for each day that he is gone). And they are
wonderful, going back to the early days of valentines ... all shapes
and sizes, moveable parts, the works. I now have a fabulous
collection, and a daily reminder of the love of my true sweetheart. -
Diana Everett, Kirtland, Ohio.
·Badge of love: "Since I flunked my Cooking Merit Badge Test three
times, I never made Star Scout. Forty years later, my fourth and
current wife contacted the Boy Scout Office in Houston, pleading her
case for a merit badge for a 52-year-old published cook. She went to
the BSA office, where her story was met with much hilarity, but they
sold her a $1.49 Cooking Merit Badge. Mounted on black cloth in a
shadow box, it is my most memorable gift ever." - David Phillips,
McDade, Texas
·Runaway success: "The first day of track in eighth grade, I walked up
to a cute girl named Debbie and stammered out that I really liked her
Nike shirt. As gracious as ever, Debbie presented the newly washed
shirt to me the next day. Years passed and eventually friendship grew
into love and marriage. Twenty years later, my father and I found my
old Air Force Academy lockbox in his basement. In the Academy's open
door enviroment, it was the only place to keep your most valuable
possessions. We broke into it and found only one thing - a tattered
old Nike shirt." ·Ronald Franco, Lockport, N.Y.
·Melt your heart: "I had known Jim for three-plus years. He was always
saying, 'You are the one,' or 'all I need is one date.' I was
unavailable and uninterested. I became un-involved and Jim and I went
out. We had ice cream that first date. He put his bowl down and placed
his hands on my cheeks and stared into my eyes. I said, 'Your ice
cream is melting.' And he said, 'So is my heart.' That night I told my
sister, I was going to marry Jim. We are celebrating our 18th wedding
anniversary this year." - Julie Mitten
·Magic amiss: "One weekend, home from college and visiting my long-
distance boyfriend, said boyfriend had a doctor's appointment. While
he was out, I thought I would bring a romantic sense of dorm-decor to
his bedroom ceiling ... You remember that old trick of painting on
walls with laundry detergent, which glows brilliantly in a black
light? Well, I decided to paint a rather large "I love you" with a
heart around it above his bed. "I waited patiently for the detergent
to dry, knowing with the experience of a college freshman that once it
did, the message would be invisible to anyone save my boyfriend, and
only then when he turned on the black light above the bed. Only ...
the detergent didn't dry invisibly. It soaked right into that ceiling
paint, becoming more obvious as it dried than it was when wet.
"Needless to say, this particular romantic gesture backfired ... the
boyfriend was embarrassed, the mother was irritated that I had wasted
laundry detergent, and the father glared at me knowing that he would
have to repaint the ceiling. "I now leave my love-notes on Post-Its.
At least they don't stain the paint!" -Tracy Shoemaker, Livonia, Mich.
·Stolen affections: "Back in high school, I had a 'secret' admirer who
lived across the street from me. Of course, after about the fifth
letter he left on my car, I had figured out who the secret admirer
was. The notes and the constant following me from class to class in
school were dead giveaways. He left several notes to the fact that he
would do anything for me ... including getting me cash, jewelry, and
CDs. When my grandmother and I tried to give the shoebox of letters to
his mom, she denied that her son would do anything like that. A week
later, my crazy love-struck neighbor was sent to a juvenile detention
center for breaking and entering in the neighborhood and lifting
money, jewlery, and CDs from the houses. Thankfully, that called a
halt to my neighbor's stalker love." - Crystal Taunton