Another “Lost Valentine” Found

I just couldn’t resist writing to tell you that Ted Olinger’s column “Lost Valentine” (Feb. 2021) reminded me of a similar situation I had at Stadium High School in the 1950s.

There was a young lady who was the heartthrob of most of the boys in school. I too had a crush on her, but she had a boyfriend so I just watched her from afar.

Along comes our 50th class reunion in 2007 and I was working the registration desk at the event. The elevator opened and she appeared. Word had it her husband had died and she was having trouble dealing with her loss even after a couple of years.

I rose to greet her. She said something along the lines of, “You remember me?” I nearly blurted out, “How could anyone forget you?” I told her it was really nice to see her and that back at Stadium I would have liked to call her up for a date. She replied, “Why didn’t you? I didn’t think you even knew who I was.” I came around the table to give her a hug, and she kissed me.

She has since passed away, but that column brought her memory back to life.

Thank you.

Bert Magnuson, Longbranch