It’s Valentine’s Day today, and you know what that means: If you haven’t booked your Friday night dinner reservations a long time ago, you’re out of luck.
But we agree with those people who say V-Day shouldn’t be about consumerism, or how much you spend on gifts, dinners, cards, jewelry, or those little boxes of candy hearts dyed with (now banned) Red 3 that reportedly causes cancer.
Nah, this day should be about recognizing that special someone, whether your love is romantic or platonic or whatever, and letting that person know in a genuine way. Maybe spending some quality time together. For single folks, pets should count, too; non-traditional Valentines are cool. Or how about writing down your personal love story and getting a local media outlet to publish it? Double awwwws.
So in the spirit of a holiday about love, we asked our readers to send in their personal romantic stories—and to spare us no details. Here’s what came through:
Chocolate Milk Love Stories
(2009-2011)
by Jen Bean
My husband and I started dating in high school. He was a grade above me and my mom was a substitute teacher. When he found out that she had a daughter in our school he proceeded to tell her that I had spent the last weekend at his house “smoking all his weed and drinking all of his beer.”
My mom, of course, blew up on me. And I, of course, had no idea who she was even talking about.
The next year we were in the same Algebra class and sat next to each other. Annoyed when he asked if he could cheat off me, I said “Yes,” and he proceeded to get a 40 … We didn’t start off on the right foot but over time, he broke me down with jokes, mostly about thinking my mom was hot. Once the school year was over, we went on our separate ways.
The next year, we met up again in the lunch line when he forgot his chocolate milk. He asked why I never texted him. I told him I didn’t have his number. He said he put it in my yearbook. When I checked later that day, he did in fact leave it: “For some good loving, call (804)***-****”
Been together ever since and this story was told in our wedding vows over a decade later.
How did this change you, your perspective on love, or even your life?
I have loved my husband since I was 17 years old. His sense of humor over the last 15 years has kept me laughing every day. His kind heart makes me believe in the best this world has to offer. He’s my soulmate and I’m so glad he annoyed the hell out me.
I look forward to being annoyed for the rest of my life with him.
What’s the one moment from this story you’ll never forget?
I’ll never forget opening my yearbook and actually seeing that he did write his number… And a nice little proposition for me. To be honest, I could barely read it because his handwriting was so awful.
Serendipity
(March 1986, Washington, DC)
by Gerald Bowman
I attended a Family Therapy conference in 1986 in Washington, DC.
I walked to the registration desk. I looked at a woman, and she looked at me, and I will never forget that moment. We were about 10 feet apart, so it was not like we were close. I did not speak to her as I was registering, and the moment lasted maybe 10 seconds at most.
I looked for her the rest of the conference but never saw her again.
When the conference ended on Saturday, I was leaving to drive back to RVA, so I went into a 7-11 to buy a cola for the cold caffeine. I went in and there was a line; I almost left thinking I can go somewhere else or stop on the way back to RVA, but decided to go on in and buy. Low and behold, this woman was standing in the same line to get to the cashier, so we started talking.
She was from Germany and was doing graduate work at Syracuse. We exchanged addresses and she went back to New York and I to RVA. I sent a letter, she replied. She came to visit me in RVA.
Now 39 years later, we still both recall that moment and how it was the best.
How did this change you, your perspective on love, or even your life?
Fate, karma or whatever. It changed my life for the better. My partner is the best person in my life ever. At any point, a minute or two in either direction would have changed this story. Had I not gone to the conference or had she not. Had I arrived earlier or later at the hotel, or had I not gone to the 7-11 or had she not gone or arrived earlier or later.
Relocating to Germany and finding work was an entire other story, also with lots of fate and karma involved. 39 years, two children, two grandchildren, and a good life, unbelievably fortunate and grateful.
What’s the one moment from this story you’ll never forget?
The moment we looked at one another. It sounds cliche but I felt the connection instantly in the moment we looked at one another.
High School Sweethearts … Almost
by Susannah Piersol
It’s Fall 2007 at Richmond’s nerdiest high school, Maggie Walker. I’m a junior living my best life as the school’s top female runner. I’m completely devoted to cross country and all the events and type A friends that go with it.
Enter Eric. A “wannabe Richmonder” as I called him, being the native Fan rat that I was, complete with skinny jeans, a road bike, and long sandy blonde hair. He was cute and I more than approved of his what we called “scene” look (now commonly known as hipster).
He ran towards me after lunch one day: “Do you want to go to homecoming with me?”
It was the first sentence he ever spoke to me and I couldn’t help but respond with an immediate and enthusiastic “Yeah sure!” So it was set … It was bound to be a good time… until it wasn’t.
We started the evening off getting dinner at Third Street Diner (RIP) with a few other friends and it was clear Eric arrived ready to party. My straitlaced sober Sally ‘I have a race in the morning’ self was the exact opposite. The dance was fine but the after party is what sealed our fate … or so I thought.
At the after-party, I was rethinking my attitude towards Eric and thought I’d give him another chance despite being terribly annoyed at his lack of sobriety. I imagined us kissing and fooling around. I thought about what I’d tell my friends the next day and hoped this could potentially become more.
I was eager to find him and flirt with him when I walked down the basement stairs and was stopped suddenly when I saw him: There he was, smiling and sitting on a couch with another woman comfortably in his lap. If there ever a time I gave a dirty look it was in this moment. I was furious. That was it. He blew it. There was no more Susannah and Eric.
Until there was.
Fast forward 10 years later. It’s 2017, and I just moved back to Richmond after living it up in NYC. I have a recently broken heart, am desperately looking for a job, and I’m sadly living with my parents. Life was a struggle to say the least. I casually text some high school friends about hanging out. Enter Eric again.
A now legitimate Richmonder, still with skinny jeans, a road bike, and sandy blonde hair. We start talking and keep talking. Woah! It seems as though he’s grown up. He’s in grad school, has a job, has hobbies. He isn’t the sloppy homecoming date engrained in my mind. I’m intrigued and find myself keeping the conversation going. He invites me to hang out at Bamboo the following night to celebrate his birthday and I eagerly accept.
It’s past midnight at Bamboo. I nervously arrive solo looking for Eric. I’m so relieved when I spot him at the end of the bar and am happy there is no girl on his lap or in his vicinity in general. He sees me too and approaches me with excitement and sincerity. We banter through last call and finally start walking home.
“I’ll walk you to your parents’ house” he says. I’m taken aback but don’t protest. I tell myself it’s no big deal because it’s on the way to his apartment anyways. A group of us start walking and his friend Jeffrey sneaks up beside me.
“I think I like him” I admit to Jeffrey. “But I don’t know that he feels the same.”
“Are you kidding me?!” Jeffrey asks. “He’s crazy about you!”
Moments later Jeffrey veers off to head to his apartment and Eric follows me down Floyd. We stop right before my parents’ house at the corner of Floyd and Rowland and briefly look at one another before he goes in for a kiss. “It’s about damn time” I thought to myself.
We’ve been together ever since. Eric and I married in August 2021. We are deeply in love and have two beautiful children – Hazel (2) and August (3 months). I’m so grateful we found each other again and am a big believer in timing.
How did this change you, your perspective on love, or even your life?
Timing is everything. The attraction was always there but the timing was off. We had to mature, experience heartbreak, and live through other life lessons before we could reconnect and be the couple we are today.
What’s the one moment from this story you’ll never forget?
I’ll never forget seeing the other girl on his lap LOL! I was so furious, I’m surprised I ever gave him another chance but boy, am I glad. The moment we kissed when walking home from Bamboo was magical.
It was 10 years in the making, and it was more than worth the wait.
WTF Moment
(Christmas 2024)
by Hannah Allen
I can handle the plain T-shirt for the fancy Christmas bar. I can handle the neck beard, even his card declining.
However, I cannot handle him proceeding to go on his close friends’ stories one minute after departing and stating that “Got this ‘not worth dating’ feeling going on.”
[He] doesn’t realize that I’m on his close friends’ stories and then proceeds to post a meme of SpongeBob hyperventilating. Then after all that, texted me ‘had a good time.’
The date wasn’t even that bad, he just fully blew it afterwards.
How did this change you, your perspective on love, or even your life?
Yet again, another reason why I’m picky about going even on first dates. It immediately put me in a bad mood.
What’s the one moment from this story you’ll never forget?
I screenshotted the stories because 15 minutes later he deleted it 💀💀
Love Story
(Dec. 2004)
by Adrienne Kirkpatrick
[On] Dec. 22, 2004 my sister was trying to fly back to RVA standby to get ahead of a snowstorm. She didn’t make the flight … I get a phone call. A man says “Do you know who this is? I’m doing shots with your sister at a bar in LaGuardia.”
Turns out the dad was Johnny Giavos, who I worked for during grad school at Sidewalk [Café]. He told me to pick him up with her at RIC and he was taking us to his new bar 3 Monkeys. Once there, my sister said no one from overseas would choose to live in RVA.
Johnny said, “Hang on,” and came back with a 6’5” Brit. This guy was getting a divorce, as was I (Johnny was at my first wedding), so he had to bring him over.
I asked him what size shoe he wore. He responded “Why? Do you own a shoe store?”
I said “Yes, yes I do – I’m getting rid of men’s shoes, and I have a pair of size 13 sneakers you can have.” He sheepishly replied “Oh.” Then said he was leaving for the UK the next day, but would get the sneakers before his flight.
He came running in the rain the next day to get the shoes and then left.
Early January he came strolling [back] into the shop. Still together 20 years later.
How did this change you, your perspective on love, or even your life?
Reinforced my belief that change is good. You never know what’s waiting for you.
Two Artists Meet Unexpectedly
(Early 2000s)
by Mary Shaker
Driving down Cary Street from the mansions at Huguenot through Carytown and VCU and then the Old City, a pilgrim pulls up to 20th Street, once the home of American Tobacco.
Some brave souls have turned the building into Shockoe Bottom Art Center, an active, vital place where a couple hundred artists and craftsmen have made a temporary colony.
How did this change you, your perspective on love, or even your life?
I was a Williamsburg resident at the time with an art gallery and frame shop of my own, but I was compelled to rent space here for some unknown reason.
What’s the one moment from this story you’ll never forget?
He was homeless living in his studio but had a singular background as a piano technician and guitarist. At a monthly art opening, he kissed me goodbye and that was it.
My life would never be the same. Eventually we were able to create a magical life together.
Stephan passed on four years ago, and the building now houses apartments.
But we’re still an item and always will be.
