Celebrating romance and marriage on Valentine’s Day

This post celebrates love through stories of extraordinary couples, including a renowned columnist with a high IQ and her artificial heart developer husband, as well as childhood sweethearts overcoming disabilities. It underscores the common themes of respect, caring, and commitment in relationships, echoing the sentiment that “All you need is love.”


What the word needs now is love, sweet love, that’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” 

Hal David, lyricist

I’m glad you found this post, enjoy it, or view an updated version at this link.

a red heart
Valentine heart graphic from Lightstock.com, affiliate link

One of my Sunday traditions is reading Parade, a magazine in the newspaper. One of my favorite parts is the “Ask Marilyn” column where Marilyn Vos Savant answers complex questions on a wide range of subjects- math, science, medicine, technology, economics, games, sports, and just about any topic you can imagine.

I have wondered how she does it, imagining it must take hours and hours of research.

But then I learned her history.  She has one of the highest IQs in the world. She is certifiably the world’s smartest woman. 

One week,  Parade published an article about how she met her husband. She is married to none other than Dr. Robert Jarvik, developer of the artificial heart.

They met when he called her after reading a magazine article about her and had a long-distance courtship lasting one year.

At their wedding, science fiction author Isaac Asimov walked her down the aisle; the best man was the 7th recipient of one of the Jarvik artificial hearts! How’s that for romantic. They have been happily married since 1987.      

Isaac Asimov: The Complete Stories, Vol. 1


Books by Marilyn Vos Savant 

Growing Up: A Classic American Childhood

The Power of Logical Thinking 

Another love story-Austin and Jessica 

Another couple featured in the issue, Austin and Jessica, were literal childhood sweethearts, having met as toddlers. They and their parents met in a support group- for families of children with Down Syndrome.

With their parents’ support, they have overcome their disabilities to build a loving, stable marriage- and maybe because he “treats her like a princess.”

These are two very different couples who share something special-

respect, caring, and commitment to the person they love.

As Beatles John and Paul (Lennon and McCartney) told us many years ago,

All you need is love.”

 

(These and some other links in this post are to affiliate sites that may pay this blog a small commission. )

My love story

It wasn’t Valentine’s Day, but my husband and I shared a romantic dinner on vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Read about our romance at the link below the photo

Two Words That Changed My Life

man and woman at dinner
Dr. Aletha and Raymond

LIGHTSTOCK.COM, AFFILIATE LINK


 

sharing the HEART of love

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February Timely Topics- Hearts and Love

In this post I highlight February, American Heart Month, promoting heart health awareness, and Valentine’s Day on February 14, encouraging expressions of love and hope. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent on February 18. Consider Bookshop.org for unique Valentine’s gifts. See the heartfelt mural at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

updated January 29, 2026

Celebrate Your Heart

February is American Heart Month. On this blog, you can find information and inspiration to keep your heart healthy.

7 Keys to a Healthy Heart

February is American Heart Month, highlighting heart health amidst Valentine’s Day. In this post I outline seven major types of heart diseases and risk factors such as smoking and hypertension. Recognizing heart problem symptoms is crucial. Maintaining heart health involves addressing risk factors with healthy lifestyle choices. Share this vital information.

Keep reading

Celebrate Love

Valentine’s Day is February 14.

Share words of faith, hope, and LOVE whenever you have a chance.

tree with red leaves shaped like a heart
William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet, and actor graphic from Lightstock.com, stock photo site

Lent

In 2026, Ash Wednesday is on February 18, starting the Christian season of Lent.

Exploring and Sharing the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Consider Bookshop.org for a Valentine’s Day gift for that special person, or anytime you want to remember a special occasion.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore that financially supports local, independent bookstores.

We believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good.

Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.

Medical stethoscope and heart on a textured background
Dr. Aletha

Cover Image

I took the cover photo at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. It is part of a mural outside the museum entrance. Each square is a picture drawn by a child and sent to Oklahoma City after the 1995 terrorist bombing, which killed 168 people, including several children.

Here is another part of the mural.

colorful painted tiles displayed on wall
Children painted tiles to express condolences when the federal building in Oklahoma City was bombed in 1995. The tiles are displayed outside the memorial museum now.