Tell us how you met the person who makes your heart go pitter-patter
We're asking people, including you, to tell us how you met your spouse or significant other. You need to do it in 200 words or less and send it to valentines@theacorn.com. We need it no later than 5 p.m. next Monday, Feb. 4. If you're not Internet compatible, mail it to the address in the box below or drop it off at our office.

Let's be honest here, like we always are. Not everyone met their sweetheart in some exotic or romantic location.

Oh sure, if you met at the Eiffel Tower or at Fisherman's Wharf while looking at the Golden Gate bridge on a moonlit night, we'd like to hear about it.

But some of us met in more humble and not necessarily ideal surroundings.

Many of you, for example, may have met in college. But come on, think hard, can't you pin it down a little more specifically?

Maybe something like, "We were lab partners in biology. We shared a frog," or "I caught his eye during a philosophy class. He looked at me, realized I was bored, and asked me whether we were meant to be or not to be.

"We knew immediately we had something in common- neither of us had a clue what the professor was talking about."

Some of you might have met at a wedding- or a funeral.

That would make an interesting story.

And although few would admit it, at least some of us met on a blind date, or a chat room, or through some silly dating service.

Try to provide something tangible, maybe some little detail that readers can sink their teeth into, such as, "I distinctly remember the first words she said to me. . . . She looked deeply into my eyes and asked, 'Would you like fries with that?'"

Don't be afraid to say you met at work. It's not that unusual. People also meet at parties, barbecues, rock concerts and on camping trips. Some of you may have met in bars, laundry rooms or libraries. Because we'll be sharing a wide range of human experiences, the stories will be diverse and entertaining.

So break out your keyboard or ballpoint pen and go to work.

But for heaven's sake, don't forget that special person on Feb. 14. That's even more important than telling us how you met.

Like Sunday's Super Bowl and the presidential primary next Tuesday, this is big.