It’s easy to make fun of Valentine’s Day or try to write it off as cheesy—there are all the hearts, chubby cupids, storefronts covered in various hues of pinks and reds. But Valentine’s Day is about more than a dinner out or a bouquet of flowers. It’s an opportunity to do something romantic, to tell someone how you feel, or even take a chance on someone new.
The people in this month’s featured love stories from the archives of the online dating site and app Zoosk did just that. The way they met all feature Valentine’s Day in some small form. Whether the day gave them inspiration to say hello, became their first date, or was the reason they came together, all these real life love stories wouldn’t have happened without this cheesy, silly little day.
Debby and Robert
“Robert works a late shift so he asked if I would still be awake when he got home at 1:00 a.m. I said sure. I stayed up and we talked that night, or I should say morning, for almost three hours.”
I had been online dating for nine months and was beginning to think it was hopeless, when on Feb 9, 2015 I got a message from Robert. We started chatting and exchanged phone numbers that same night. Robert works a late shift so he asked if I would still be awake when he got home at 1:00 a.m. I said sure. I stayed up and we talked that night, or I should say morning, for almost three hours. And we continued to text or talk every night after that. Then, on February 11th he asked me, “Would you, could you, be my Valentine?” Of course I said yes! We had our first date on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, and it was FIREWORKS at first site. It feels so right between us… like we’re supposed to be together and have known each other forever. It’s such an amazing feeling that it’s hard to describe.
Gary and Karen
“We met on Feb 13th, just before Valentine‘s Day, which could be an awkward time to begin a relationship, but for us it was perfect.”
While looking for people online, I was initially attracted to the devotion that Gary relayed when telling the story of his marriage and his wife’s death in his profile. I wrote him just to say I was sorry for his loss, and that I wished him well in his search. But then we started writing back and forth—we wrote very honest, heartfelt messages and shared our histories with each other. I travel a lot for work and had several trips to make that delayed our meeting by almost a month, so by the time we met we had written and talked on the phone at length. We met on Feb 13th, just before Valentine’s Day, which could be an awkward time to begin a relationship, but for us it was perfect. Almost from the moment we met, I think we both knew this was it. We enjoy so many of the same things, and it seems our primary difference is Bears vs. Packers. We are both very loving, optimistic, laid back types of people, and we laugh through our days and our nights. We are both lovers of family, pets, travel, and it seems that each new encounter deepens our love. About 10 days ago we made a formal commitment with a ring. I cannot wait to spend my life with this uniquely amazing man.
Erika and Ernest
“It was storming in Alabama and Georgia, but through the rain he came to meet me for the first time.”
I received a message from my soulmate Ernest on February 9, 2014 and I quickly responded. I didn’t even look to see where he lived and lol, to my surprise he lived in Auburn, Alabama and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. That scared me at first but he quickly reassured me. Well, a few phone conversations and text messages later we decided to meet. And on Valentine’s Day at that! He said he would do whatever it took for us to be together. It was storming in Alabama and Georgia, but through the rain he came to meet me for the first time. It truly was love at first sight. My daughter loves him and his son loves me. We don’t always know what the future holds but we know we are together in it.
Jenn and Andrew
“I never expected that he would contact someone like me. He seemed so out of my league!”
One day I was scrolling through Zoosk and I came upon Andrew’s picture… He was handsome and his profile looked like he lived an interesting life as a firefighter and an outdoors man. I liked his profile, but I never expected that he would contact someone like me. He seemed so out of my league! But one day he messaged me and we hit it off. We spent weeks and weeks talking on the phone and staying up late just talking. Then on Valentine’s Day he met me at my job as my surprise Valentine. Ever since then we haven’t left each other’s sides! Seven years later we have a son, a second baby on the way, and our wedding will be in September of this year!
Tammy and Griff
“Your partner should be your best friend, your cheerleader, your lover, your hero… Your reason to smile again.”
After nine years of being alone and raising my son alone, I had just about given up on love. I found the dating site Zoosk and thought half-heartedly… Eh I’ll try it and if anyone answers me that’s worth my time, then maybe… Then one night in February, when it was just creeping in on Valentine‘s Day and I was feeling a little sad, I saw this man’s profile that caught my eye… He said he was a Packer fan or something like that. So, me being the wisecracker that I am, I messaged him and asked, “How did you end up way down here from Green Bay?” I guess my knowledge of sports hooked him, because we exchanged numbers and we talked about pro-wrestling for about six hours straight! About a week later, we had our first date, and the rest is history. We were married in Las Vegas, three months after our one year dating anniversary. I believe a relationship should build and that your partner should be your best friend, your cheerleader, your lover, your hero… Your reason to smile again.
Doyal and Debbie
“It was like the people around us were coming and going in super fast motion as we stayed in slow motion.”
When we first started chatting we just had simple and causal hellos. Then right when I was about to say goodbye one night Debbie asked me a riveting question… “Do you know the difference between chemistry and energy? Do you believe in a soulmate?” It resonated with me because I understand metaphysics, quantum physics, and spiritual energy… I just knew I had to meet her. We met at a restaurant and sat and talked for five and half hours. It was like the people around us were coming and going in super fast motion as we stayed in slow motion, not wanting the day to end. Since that day we have never been apart and she definitely completes me. On Valentine’s Day Debbie knocked me out of my mind with a gift. It was a letter that she wrote to my mother (who passed away 25 years ago) thanking her for the greatest gift that she could of ever given her… Me. Debbie put this letter in a helium balloon and we took it up to a mountain and released it to the heavens. She also bought a star and named it Judy after my mother, so when we look out into the night stars we can find her. She has three wonderful children (two with special needs) and I have two wonderful children and we all have found love and friendship with one another.
