Recently, the ?Modern Love? team asked you to share stories about the most romantic things that have ever happened to you. What struck us about your stories was how frequently romance was found in quiet, everyday actions: rubbing your loved one?s feet, paying the bill, changing a flat tire, eating dinner together on the porch. This week, in celebration of Valentine?s Day, we hear stories that remind us all how simple love can be. 

Then, we speak to the king and queen of Valentine's Day. For 30 years, Lonnie Anderson has made giant, over-the-top valentines for his wife, Anne Bolger Witherspoon, and has become a local legend in Albuquerque for doing so. The two tell us why Lonnie goes to the extraordinary lengths he does, and what it feels like for Anne to receive these extravagant, very public valentines. 

Find photos of Lonnie?s valentines here.

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Please note: this episode contains explicit descriptions of sex.

Jennette McCurdy pretty much grew up in front of an audience. In her role on the Nickelodeon show ?iCarly,? she seemed like a bubbly, happy teenager. Behind the scenes, though, she was struggling. In her 2022 memoir, ?I?m Glad My Mom Died,? McCurdy described her toxic and often abusive relationship with her mother, her struggles with depression and disordered eating, and the painful work she did to build herself back up. The book was a New York Times bestseller for over 80 weeks. 

McCurdy has a new book out, and this time, she?s written a novel. ?Half His Age? tells the story of an intimate relationship between a 17-year-old girl named Waldo and her 40-year-old teacher, Mr. Korgy. This week on ?Modern Love,? McCurdy explains how some of her own experiences inspired the story in ?Half His Age,? and how writing the book allowed her to work through her rage, understand her desire and reclaim her power.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

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Explore the trials and tribulations of love in these deeply personal essays. A collaboration of The New York Times and WBUR in Boston, Modern Love: The Podcast features the popular New York Times column, with readings by notable personalities and updates from the essayists themselves. Join host Meghna Chakrabarti (WBUR) and Modern Love editor Daniel Jones (NYT) -- and fall in love at first listen.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.