I can't help it, I'm a hopeless romantic and V-Day makes me think of "I love you." So it's only fitting that today of all days I am thinking of the first time someone other than a family member said those words to me.

I don't completely remember the first time I met Matt Szatkowski. I'm sure we were somewhere around 7ish and I remember that he and I and some other kids all piled onto my dad's hammock and broke it and that night we weren't allowed to sit at the campfire. I know there was another time in which he had a Walkman and was listening to Amy Grant and that was my first taste of my favorite music artist from my childhood. Good times.

I do remember, though, the first time a boy said those three little words to me. Matt's family, my family, and some others families were all camping together at Jellystone Park in Wisconsin Dells. We'd spent the day at the pool, getting out for two minutes at a time to pretend we were adults, trying to sunbathe, before decided that was stupid and jumping back in. It was late afternoon and we were hanging out before dinner. That's when it happened.

"Krysten?"

"Yeah Matt?"

"I have to tell you something?"

"I hate Whitney Houston, Matt. If you make me listen to her I'll punch you in the face."

"I love you."

And with that, like a flash, he ran away. I went after him and he ducked into the boys' bathroom, a place I definitely was not willing to go, even in the name of love. Finally, I gave up, and walked back to my family's camper for my Walkman. I knew he was following me. And I let him. Because I "loved" him too but I would never in a million years admit to liking that scrawny, Whitney Houston loving wimp. So I had to settle for knowing he "loved" me and was following me, headphones covering his ears, Whitney Houston belting out some hit and adding to the soundtrack of his life.

That was the first time I ever heard those words from a boy. Definitely wasn't the last. But I have to say, it's one of the few "I love you's" from a boy that still sticks in my memory.

See, I'm not totally jaded by this day.

Happy Valentine's Day All!