POST FALLS — When it comes to Valentine’s Day, simple gestures of appreciation and love shine brighter than any diamond.

Residents of Garden Plaza, a senior living community in Post Falls, chatted with The Press on Sunday about love, romance, and their most memorable Valentine’s Days. A common theme quickly emerged during the conversations — simple, even handmade, demonstrations of love create memories that last a lifetime.

“You had to make something, and use whatever you can find to make it with,” said Lorraine Bowman, 90, of Valentine’s Day memories in elementary school and beyond.

“You can go into any place and buy a card and pay some money. But when you make something because you like somebody, or they are special to you, then it means more.”

Georgeann Folk has a hatbox filled with love letters, many from more than 60 years ago when she and her late husband, Earl, were not yet married and still in high school. Each of the letters from high school were written on handmade stationery and contained simple poems along with a message of love.

When Folk, 86, recently opened the hatbox she discovered two valentines in addition to the love letters — one from before they were married and one from after the two exchanged wedding vows.

“The one from before we were married is a real large, big, beautiful valentine with a satin heart,” Folk said. “And then the other one had a heart too. I laughed because before we got married he got me the biggest valentine he could find. After we got married it was beautiful, but small because we had no money. We still had the love, but no money.”

Both valentines had messages of love inside, and Folk’s eyes lit up when she described how Earl made sure to underline portions that were particularly special.

“You don’t need the fancy dinners or anything, just that love and knowing you love each other,” she added.

Although they were less descriptive when it came to matters of love and Valentine’s Day, both Keith Watson and Bernie Welter have fond memories of exchanging cards in class. Watson, 92, said if you weren’t prepared to give each and every classmate a card, you were not allowed to hand out any at all.

In high school and elementary school, Watson said times were tough and it was challenging to buy something for that special someone.

“By college, I had too many girlfriends to give them any cards,” Watson said with a laugh. “My picture was in the college yearbook and I was on top of my ’35 Ford with five girls. It said “Buddy and the Girls” — they had brought back my nickname I had ditched in elementary school.”

Since Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching on Tuesday, The Press also asked the residents to give their best advice for younger lovebirds. Even just one flower on Valentine’s Day, Folk said, ensures your loved one knows you are thinking about them.

“My husband and I were very much in love, but you have to be thankful each day for what you have and the person you’re with,” added Folk, who was married for 61 years. “Even if times get tough and you don’t always get along, you have to put a real effort into it. Everything in life is just lent to us, appreciate every moment of it.”

“It’s a very special time and it’s an outstanding time for people who are in love,” Bowman said. “It’s for young people, honey.”

“Appreciate what you’ve got,” added Welter, who was married for 58 years. “The fact is, it wasn’t until after my wife was gone that I really knew what I could have done to savor and appreciate it a little bit longer.”