How I met the love of my life: Robert Hersh. At the mature age of 58, having been divorced for 12 years, I was convinced that I was not going to ever get married again. However, the Gods of Love had something else in mind for me.

It was St. Patrick's Day, and I decided to go to a dance. I needed to go out and have some fun. I loved dancing.

A man came up to me and asked me to dance. We started dancing and talking. An hour passed, and I realized that we were no longer dancing. We were just standing in the middle of the dance floor in deep conversation. We went and sat at a table and continued talking for hours. It was as if we had known each other at some time in the past. There was such a strong magnetic feeling between the two of us.

We both knew that we were meant to be together before the night ended. We married a year later. Nine wonderful years have passed, and we are still deeply in love with each other. —Darlene Hersh, Simi Valley I met Chuck Gannon at the Holiday Health Spa in Torrance, Calif., in 1983. Chuck would be finishing his workout when I would be getting there from work. He would either be checking me out as I ran the indoor track or walking through the pizza place next door to the Holiday Health Spa's front door. On Mother's Day, my mother met Chuck for the first time. My mother told me, Chuck is very good-looking and a polite man. It took awhile for him to grow on me. He has red hair and is a little shorter than I normally have dated. I got to know his insides better and better. We eventually became closer. One night when I just couldn't wait to see him again, is where I really fell in love with him. He is a man that has a heart of gold. He is very caring, loving and thoughtful and really knows what a lady loves, kind of man. It took me awhile to learn to love a man from the inside and not just what he looks like on the outside. We will be married for 19 wonderful years on May 12. —Christine Gannon It was in the winter of 1972, in Kalamazoo, Mich., when I first laid eyes on the love of my life. I was lying in a hospital bed, recovering from a nasty kidney infection, when a guy I had been seeing came to visit. I had just been given a shot of morphine for the pain and was a little loopy, so he didn't stay long. About five minutes after he left, in walked the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen—blue eyes, long shaggy hair, nice body and a wonderful smile. He asked me if I was a friend of Mark's, and I told him I was. He introduced himself and said that he had been waiting in the lobby for him and now couldn't find him. I told him that he had just left, so he said goodbye, and I was instantly smitten. After I returned home, we began seeing each other regularly until 1975, when he moved to California to go school and broke my heart. We've kept in touch through the years and the last time I saw him was July 1984 when he was in Michigan visiting his family in Bay City. I miss him to this day. —Diane Hunt, Kalamazoo, Mich. My husband and I used to work together. We were just friends. He was 22 years young, immature, skinny and had a bad reputation with proof to back it up. One night we were supposed to out with a group, but just he and I showed up. He tried to kiss me, and I backed away. We agreed to remain friends. I went on vacation and realized while I was gone just how much I missed him. He was feeling the same way. When I returned he cooked me a delicious meal in my apartment. I decided to proceed with caution. I made a list of the pros and cons of dating him. The cons easily outweighed the pros, yet there was something so sweet about the way he treated me. On Feb. 14, 1991, he took me to an expensive restaurant and professed his romantic interest. I followed my heart and not my mind, and we were married one year later. It's been 17 years, and I love and respect Robert more every day. (Honey, I may have loved you first, but you said it!) —Amie Johnson, Simi Valley When I met Spencer, we were working together at the same retail job in Thousand Oaks. I had worked there for several months, but I never had the nerve to talk to him because he always acted so suave and cool, so I thought he wouldn't give me the time of day. Then one day we actually got to talking, and he asked me out on a date, but when we went I was so shy he did most of the talking to fill the space, and I wasn't sure it would work out because I was so intimidated, but he didn't seem to mind. Once I really got to know him I realized that he was just as goofy as I was, and that is when I knew I loved him. Now we keep our love strong by finding new recipes to cook for each other and setting aside one day a week to do something together. I have never been happier! Happy Valentine's Day, Spencer. I love you! —Nicole Koob, Simi Valley My first date with my boyfriend of two and a half years, Brad, was definitely something that I'll never forget. He took me to a sushi restaurant because he knew that I love sushi. Apparently, it was his first time going to a sushi restaurant, and when the waitress first brought over the wasabi, he opened his chopsticks and took a little taste, feigning a smile and telling me that it was good. It was hard not to laugh and as I quickly told him that that's not how you're supposed to eat it; him doing that made me realize how much he wanted to impress me. As much as we laugh and look back at it, I'll never forget that about our first date and recognize it as one of the first moments when I started to fall for him. It still makes my heart flutter. Happy Valentine's Day, Brad. —Brittany Silverstein, Simi Valley I knew Richie for about 15 years as a family friend, but we did not start dating until five years after a divorce. I had always appreciated his sense of humor and smile but never knew of his sincere willingness to help others until we spent more time together. From the beginning Richie was there for me and the kids, day or night. He knew my family well and was always supportive of our family traditions and gatherings, and together, with three children, we have built our own traditions. After dating seven months, Richie proposed one night on a beach where we had spent a lot of time together and where we continue to camp today with our family. We were married in Maui in May 2000 with our families present. We continue to support each other and share that love and support with three children: Danielle, 21, Richard, 18, and Anthony, 8. We try to find humor in life and laugh whenever we can. Richie's sense of humor has enlightened our lives and keeps us smiling. Sometimes we can't help but laugh. Happy Valentine's Day, Smoochie. —Michelle Kay, Simi Valley A poem for Nick: Heaven is where the heart is Love is true God is watching over us As we are passing through Time is something everyone should value May God bless your hopes and dreams Guide our children When too tough it seems All my love —Rashelle Grasso, Simi Valley I met my husband when I was 12. He had come over to take my sister out, and while he was waiting for her he asked me how my day was. They left, and I said to my mom, I am going to marry that guy one day. Twelve years later I became Mrs. Michael Carter. Just like in a fairy tale dreams do come true. —Jamie Carter, Simi Valley The man in my life and I have been together for 33 years and are still going strong. My husband and I met in 1973 when I was still Sweet 16. We actually hooked up at Disneyland on an outing with a group of 20 teenagers, so Rob teases me that we have a "Mickey Mouse" relationship. We dated for several years before marrying in 1981 and will celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary this year. Still best friends, I don't know what our secret is, but we still hold hands and laugh a lot, can complete each other's sentences and don't get tired of the other's company. When we were dating, a waitress once gave us the "Smilingest Couple Award." There is no one else I would want to spend all my Valentine's Days with. —Anita Mawer, Simi Valley So here we are, in Simi Valley, transplanted from a lifetime in New Jersey, now to our retirement house, at long last. This dream-come-true of living our later years near our sons and daughters-in-law is just lovely. With 43 years of nursing likely behind me now, and 45 years of architectural practice still in Nick's blood, we see each other as we always have, as adults together for life.

When Nick's sister was in labor and there were complications, I just luckily was her labor nurse. Rose quickly decided that her nurse, Ruth, might be a perfect match for her brother Nick. And thus, it was so. Various threads entwined to bring us together, and so many more have woven these two lives together for a lasting fabric that meshed with many dear lives. —Ruth Duca, Simi Valley I am a 90-year-old gentleman who met his wife on a blind date. I remember taking her to the theater to see "The Yearling" with Gregory Peck.

The first time I looked into her beautiful blue eyes I knew she was the gal for me. I loved her no-nonsense personality, especially when, after dating for a year, she said to me, "We're getting married on Valentine's Day."

I responded, "I was waiting for you to say that!"

We wed on Valentine's Day in 1947 in a little white church in Salem, Mass. We moved to California a few years later but often returned by car to visit. We loved to sing together as we traveled across the country.

My dear wife developed dementia 10 years ago. Although she could no longer talk, I would sing to her a few verses of country songs. Our favorites were, "If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it with you" and "Have I told you lately that I love you?" She would raise her eyebrows, and her eyes would light up.

Sadly, she passed away last year but will always be my love.

—Benjamin J. Kelly, Simi Valley Long-lost lovers are the best. Steve and I met in 1965 at Food Giant Market in Reseda, where he was a box boy and I was shopping for my mom.

I thought he was the cutest guy I had ever seen. We dated for over a year and then went our separate ways. Steve and I married other people and went on with our lives.

I never forgot about him nor did he really forget me. Twenty-four years later he was able to locate me, and, as they say, the rest is history. I took one look at him and saw that 18-year-old boy I gave my heart to. He had a few wrinkles and gray hair, but all I saw was the love of my life. We have been together for 20 years and married almost 18.

We thank God for giving us a second chance. Love truly is better the second time around. Happy Valentine's Day, Steven. Come grow old with me, the best is yet to be. —Luann Lloyd, Simi Valley I found my soul mate on Sept. 16, 1989. On that day I took my date to the Simi Valley Days Rodeo, and as we passed through the main gate, I saw my future wife working as a volunteer. I just had to meet her, so I escorted my date to the grandstands and excused myself to get refreshments. I bought three lemonades and took the first one to this beautiful girl and introduced myself. I will never forget her smile and those incredible eyes. I spent the rest of the day with my date, but I've spent every day since looking into those eyes. We were married one year from the day we met at the hotel across the street from the fair site. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to make her as happy as she makes me. I only hope that our four daughters will find love as perfect as the love my wife and I share. Happy Valentine's Day, Jessica! I will always love you. —Lee Seymour, Simi Valley My wife and I met on the Colorado River. She literally swam out about 200 yards from the houseboat she was on to ask me for a ride on my Sea Doo. They were new at the time, and not many people had had a chance to be on one. I knew right then that this "girl" had a sense of adventure and a great deal of energy. Eighteen years later I'm still trying to keep up with her. She's a great mom, a wonderful wife, and I love her more each day. —Michael Brasier, Simi Valley Joey definitely pursued me right from the beginning. It started with an e-mail on MySpace introducing himself and commenting on my eyes. He seemed like a very sweet guy, but at that time I wasn't interested in "dating" anyone. He understood, but that didn't stop him from trying to persuade me into at least having dinner with him. I put him off for many months until I finally felt like he was harmless enough to at least have dinner with. Plans were set for June 2, 2007. I remember walking up to him and thinking, "Great, this isn't going to work out the way I had intended." He was so handsome! I wasn't expecting that because, after all, I wasn't there to find a "love connection," just a casual dinner. To top it all off, our conversation flowed easily from the moment we sat down and for the next two hours that we sat there. I knew as we left I wanted to see Joey again, and for him—he said it was love at first sight. We have been inseparable since that first dinner to this very day. We are now engaged and very happily in love. —Dawn Patterson, Simi Valley I first met my husband in 1988, the year I graduated from high school. My husband worked with my father at a bar and grill here in town. My dad made plans for us to go to Knott's Scary Farm for Halloween. My dad brought Joe and another guy who worked with them from the restaurant. Joe told my father that I was very pretty. He won me a pumpkin head stuffed animal that night that I still put out every Halloween. We kept in touch, and he would come and visit me with my father every few weeks. I lived in the Valley back then. About a year later, we started dating. The rest is history. We have been together since we were kids. We grew up together. We saved up for our own wedding, and it was beautiful. We have been together for 20 years, married for 15. We have a wonderful 10-year-old son. We are so blessed to have found each other at such a young age. My husband is truly my very best friend and a wonderful, loving father. We are so lucky to have him. Thank you, Joe, for all you do for our family. —Brandy Bergesson, Simi Valley We met at a singles function at someone's house. I walked in the house and noticed Sandra as I passed by. She was speaking with an old friend and did not notice me. I sat at a table in the backyard waiting for the function to start and saw her looking for a seat. The seat next to me was open, though what were the odds she'd sit next to me? I watched as she weaved between tables and chairs and ultimately found the seat next to me. I turned on the charm and sense of humor. I immediately recognized her beauty and grace. Four days later I called her, and seven days later we had our first date at Gladstone's in Malibu. Our brunch was fun and engaging. While approaching the valet to get our cars, we discovered we didn't have plans for the afternoon, and we sat outside for another hour or two. Our next date the following weekend sealed it, as we went to a champagne brunch in Ventura, then embarked for a day and evening of laughter and fun in Santa Barbara. A kiss on the cheek ended this wonderful date. —Jeff Landau, Simi Valley A second marriage couldn't be as great as a perfectly wonderful first, could it? didn't think so and would not date after my husband of 35 years suddenly died. I became very active in "Widows Or Widowers," but paid for my own dinners. This went on for 16 years. Then George came to WOWs two years after his wife died. He was tall, handsome and a true Christian, but I wasn't impressed. Four months went by and not one warm fuzzy feeling. Then Christmastime cameand he dropped by with a huge poinsettia for a "ladies tea" I was giving—he said iwas a nice thing I was doing. Two weeks later he picked me up so he could carry all the things I had to take to the WOW party. Later he carried all the "stuff" in the house while I stood looking at the poinsettia and said how lovely it was. On impulse, I gave him a thank-you hug. We had never even touched hands. Suddenly he kissed me and said "I could love and cherish you for the rest of my life." And indeed he has for seven years. —Dori Leuning, Simi Valley This isn't about a knight in shining armor; it's about the horse he could have ridden in on.

Many years ago, I fell in love with a colt whose birth I witnessed on a cold winter night. He was destined to be a race horse, having "Dash For Cash" and "Seattle Slew" in his bloodlines. As I taught the colt his ground manners, the bond between us grew stronger every day. Though he was not legally my horse, I became his "person" and his partner.

The colt did not have the heart for racing. He would not give up that burst of speed and energy. Unfortunately, the owner wished to sell him for more than I could afford. It was only due to the well-meaning meddling of my friends, who told the owner it would be best for the horse to be with his "true love," that I was able to keep him.

That's how it has been for the last 10 years—every morning and evening, my sweetheart nickers as soon as he hears me outside the house. It could be about his breakfast or dinner, but I like to think he is saying, "Love you." —Michele Goyette, Simi Valley I was 17 and not dating because I had an out-of-state boyfriend. But he sent me a "Dear Jane" letter on New Year's Day 1971. I cried all day. Then I dried my tears and decided to go to the next church dance. My girlfriend tried to talk me out of it, but I could not be deterred.

At the same time Greg Needham of Thousand Oaks had decided to avoid getting a girlfriend because he'd soon be leaving for Germany for two years. But for some reason he felt compelled to go to the dance. He worked at Kmart on Madera and asked his boss for the night off. She said "No." He took it off anyway.

When he walked in we looked at each other and saw no one else. It seemed the room had no ceiling or floor. We danced all night.

At home that night, I wrote in my diary: "I think I met my Prince Charming." At the same time Greg was making a list in his diary of all the places he would like to take me, culminating with taking me to get married, which he did after his two years abroad. —Beverly Needham, Simi Even though I was 34 and never married, I was adamant not to fall for a man unless he was worth it. I knew Dan as an acquaintance/friend from a small church group for only five months when I began to have romantic feelings for him but confessed it to no one, fearing perhaps it was just a whim. About that time, Dan asked our group if we would visit his father, who had recently been transferred to a nearby convalescent home with little chance of revival. One Saturday I chose to go. My nerves a bit shaky, I walked into the room. Dan was leaning beside his father playing the harmonica. He looked at me sweetly surprised, apologized for his poor playing and pulled out a chair for me. As we sat together that afternoon, Dan was so tender with his father: holding his hand, reading to him and caring for him physically. At the end of the day, I thought, "Well, if he's not the one for me, whoever marries that man is a blessed woman." Eight months later, when our pastor asked, "Do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?" I eagerly responded, "I do!" —Michelle Kroll, Simi Valley James and I met at a homeowners meeting at the Meadowbrook complex. There was a debate about an earthquake lawsuit with the insurance company. When I saw him I had a strange vision of a white picket fence and kids. We continued the debate outside and then began a conversation about a trip to Europe he had planned with a church group. I had always wanted to go to Europe, and he wasn't sure about the group he was planning on going with. So about three months later James and I went on a 3½-week backpacking trip in Europe. We had gone as friends. But in Rome I insisted on driving the scooter we had rented and ended up crashing into a group of parked scooters, throwing him into the street, and amazingly he did not yell or say one angry word. I fell madly in love with him at that moment. We left from England on the day of Princess Diana's funeral and have been together ever since. Now, nine years of marriage and three little boys later, I still feel like the luckiest woman in the world. —Eva Fucich, Simi Valley My wife, Barbara Anne, is very special to me. She has been a wonderful wife and mother, and I can't help but love her. We met while working at Pizza Hut, became fast friends and fell in love. Soon we were married and had a beautiful daughter who is now 14. I still think back fondly to our first "date" at Magic Mountain and all of the good memories we've had since then. I love you, Barbara Anne. Happy 16th Valentine's Day. —Brian Carrell, Simi Valley Transferring high schools during your senior is hard enough. Even more so, entering a classroom full of seniors who have known each other since they were kids. There always seems to be a seat up front for the new person where everyone can see you. In the midst of all the uncertainty, I took my seat and introduced myself to the class as instructed. In the sea of upperclassmen, I noticed a pair of eyes piercing through the crowd in my direction. They belonged to the boy sitting adjacent to me. His presence was strong, quiet and intriguing. Although we shared many glimpses that year, our dialogue was absent.

Ten years passed before we saw each other again. An encounter that almost went unnoticed. Then, as he traversed the room, he noticed me. I felt his stare. I looked up and saw him. He was just as I remembered. Our eyes met, and without a word, we knew. That was 15 years ago. —Diana Sir Louis, Simi Valley 1956 North Hollywood: Upon getting home from work, my mother would make popcorn while I went to the liquor store at Lankershim and Vineland for soda pop.

I was engaged at the time. One evening, no one at the counter, knocked, asking if anyone was here. Out walked Superman lookalike. My heart did flip

lops, and I said to myself, "This is the man for me." Returned the ring the next night.

We married and moved to Simi in 1960. My husband had his own auto detailing business for 35 years, now retired. He is a loving husband and a very good provider. We have one daughter and two granddaughters living in Colorado. On March 19 we will celebrate our 49th anniversary. —Rosellen Curtis