Valentine’s Day Can Massacre Hopes or Sometimes Fulfill Them

On that depressing day that some choose to call Valentine’s Day, I greatly enjoyed reading “The Quest for Fire” by Roy Rivenburg (Feb. 14).

As the single mother of two, my Valentine plans included:

* Stationing myself at my front door to await the onslaught of floral and candy deliveries from “your secret admirer” and “your crazy lover Phil who is currently surrounded by nice men in their clean, white coats.”

* Going to a posh candy store and looking pathetic until some kind man asks me out.

* Going to a florist shop and weeping until the owners fill my arms with flowers and beg me to leave because I am making the other customers uncomfortable.

To add insult to injury, after spending one hour answering personal questions, I was rejected from an online dating service because technically I am not divorced, only separated. Picky, picky, picky!

LORI ARONSOHN

Encino

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Five years ago, I went with a group to the Valentine’s Day dance on the Queen Mary that Roy Rivenburg aptly described. I was also one of those who did not find my blind date: I don’t know if she didn’t show, or if she did and saw me first.

I wound up spending most of the evening (not the night) with a female colleague whose desk sits above mine on another floor at work. Sparks flew, but I didn’t have the nerve to ask for her number.

I called another colleague the next morning to get her number, but she had misplaced it. I had to wait till the next workday to speak to this enchantress, one of the longest weekends of my life. We went out the next night and have been inseparable since. Shari and I got married in 1998 on Valentine’s Day.

Hang on to that number and keep trying, it’s worth it! We are in our late 40s and early 50s, and I feel like life has started all over again. It’s never too late!

BILL HILL

San Pedro

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There are a few single women in my office (myself included) who would like to know more about Roy Rivenburg. We are free for drinks (better a little late than never).

MICHIKO DIXIT

Van Nuys

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As a SWPF who is, of course, beautiful, brilliant, fit and funny, I’ve experienced similar moments.... Thanks for cheering me up on an alone Valentine’s Day.

SUSAN NORD

Santa Monica