The following is a slightly extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

For some, Feb. 14 has perhaps come to be seen as a commercial grab by opportunists seeking to capitalize on the sale of flowers, chocolates, lingerie, dining out, and more. For others, the holiday is regarded as somewhat contrived, cringe, a little outdated, and perhaps an unwelcome reminder of their prevailing relationship status.

 

And while Galentine’s singles events are still growing in popularity each year as an alternative, for many more, Valentine’s Day remains a special occasion to express extra love and appreciation for those they hold dear, romantically or platonically, be they human or pet. Norwood News spoke to various Bronxites in the lead up to the annual holiday and asked for their thoughts on love.

 

On Friday, Feb. 13, we chatted with a Claremont flower vendor working close to the 170^th Street subway station serving the B/D trains, where 41-year-old Harlem man, Adrian Dawodu, was fatally shot Feb. 10. We asked him how business was going. Speaking in Spanish, he said it was going ok and anticipated it being busier the next day.

Asked if, generally, people were buying flowers or if they were also adding balloons and other gifts, he said, “A bit of everything.” The vendor said it was his wife who had been working at the stand on the day of the subway shooting. When she arrived a little later, we asked if she had seen or heard it and she said she had not. Police announced Thursday, Feb. 19, that a 27-year-old man has since been arrested in connection to the fatality. Read more here.

 

Later, we spoke to Nat, 21, who was waiting on the platform inside the 170^th Street subway station, holding a gift. We asked her if Valentine’s Day was an important day for her, personally. She laughed and as her eyes lit up, she said, “Yeah, it’s kind of crazy! I’m seeing my ex, yeah! We dated like three years in high school so we were, like, babies! We were, like, two years no contact and I’m seeing him again, so it’s kind of crazy! I’m excited! I’m going to see him today and we’re getting breakfast tomorrow.”

Nat said her ex is 22 and added, “I’m excited! I don’t know, like, how it’s going to go but we have a long story. I can’t keep ignoring him. Like, I really appreciate him, so yeah.” Norwood News asked Nat what, in her opinion, were qualities that made for a good relationship. “Knowing how to communicate,” she said. “That was like our biggest issue back then, but we were in high school so we were fairly young.”

 

Beaming, she continued, “Now, that we’re older, like more mature, I think you learn a lot and we can communicate better than back then so yeah, communication and respect.” Asked what she liked about her ex when she first met him, Nat said, “He’s Brazilian and I first went to school in Harlem so it was like really something different, and I really liked his Portuguese accent!”

 

She added, “I’m Mexican so I would teach him Spanish and he would teach me Portuguese. I don’t remember much right now, but it was really fun! I’m just really excited even though everyone told me not to [get back with him] but, like, they don’t know what we went through together so like yeah, I’m excited!”

Later, on the subway, Norwood News spoke to Jeannie and asked if she was currently in a relationship and she said she was. We asked how she met her partner and she replied, “We met online which I thought I’d never do ever, ever, ever! Actually, I was pretty cynical about the whole thing but I was really lucky because I always tell him, he’s the most wonderful man in the universe, yeah!” Asked how long they’d been together, Jeannie said, “Five years.” We asked if she’d recommend online dating therefore, and she said, “Try it! It doesn’t work for everybody, and I never thought it would work for me, and it did! I took a jump, yeah, against my better judgement.”

 

Norwood News asked what Jeannie thought made for a viable relationship. She said, “Values, I think, for me, are probably the most important.” Asked if she meant that it was important for both people to have similar or common values, she said, “Yeah, similar values or compatible values.” She asked if she could expand upon that point and we told her to go right ahead. Laughing, she said, “I couldn’t ever be with a Trumper!”

 

She continued, “My guy and I are of similar beliefs and those beliefs spill over into how we treat people, and that’s what I think is the most important thing.” Norwood News asked if they planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day. “Yeah, we got balloons and I’m an artist so I made him a print of one of my paintings that he loves,” Jeannie said.

Asked if she did something similarly creative each year, she replied, “Yes, I’ve given him prints. Actually, he has two of my paintings.” We asked what advice she would give to younger people navigating relationships in a fast-paced digital age. “I’d say really trust your instincts and if you sense that somebody is the right person to get to know, follow your best instincts,” she said.

 

Jeannie added, “If you don’t, then know that you’ve had an experience and go on.” We asked Jeannie if she thought it was wise to listen to the advice of others when it comes to relationships or to trust your own judgement. “Of course, you should use your own instincts, yeah,” she said. “You can listen to people or you can even solicit their advice, but ultimately what’s going on with you and what you perceive about the person and feel for the person, that’s what’s most important.”

 

Jeannie continued, “And you know. I knew from the very beginning that Richard was the person for me.” We asked her if she wanted to say what age range she was in, and she said her seventies. “And he’s in his eighties,” she added in reference to her partner.

THE ASL SIGN for sweethearts Video courtesy of @signingwithOmar via YouTube

Later, we spoke to Fatima, who was also on the subway and who said she is also in a relationship, and that she met her partner in their home country of Gambia. She said they’d been together 10 years and had come to the United States together. Asked what the best part was about being in the relationship with her partner, Fatima said, “He’s so kind to me, so, so kind, something that I’m not used to and am still getting used to. Growing up, people that I’ve been around weren’t known for being sensitive.”

 

We asked if this difference was true even though they were both from the same culture/country and she said, “Yes. I had, like, a tough bringing up and so it was no sensitive hugs and stuff like that so it was kind of weird when he tried to hug me, but I’m still trying to get used to this. It’s still a bit strange, but it’s nice. It’s a nice feeling.”

 

Asked if they were planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Fatima laughed and said, “Why not? I can’t get too out of the thing because I’m pregnant!” She said it’s her first baby and that she’s due at the end of next month. We asked how her pregnancy was going and she said, “I wouldn’t say it was too hard – just tired. That’s probably the only symptom that I have.” Asked if she was still working, she said she was, adding that she was going on leave two weeks before the baby was due.

On Feb. 14, Norwood News spoke to an older man who was spotted on Jerome Avenue in Norwood purchasing some flowers. Asked if he was in a relationship, he said, “I’m married from 1996.” Asked what was the secret to a long, happy marriage, the man smiled softly and said, “You know, you have to listen to your wife; that’s the best thing to keep everything in order.”

 

Click here, here, and here to view a few more photos captured of various couples celebrating their nuptials around the City in recent weeks.