Gina Ardito: Romantic Comedy Author

Love comes in all forms, from sweeping poetic romance to the saddest tragedy. In honor of Valentine's Day, here are a few
examples of the faces of love:

SECRET LOVE: Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning met through the exchange of fan mail. After reading a volume of
her poetry, Robert wrote to Elizabeth Barrett, "I love your verses ith all my heart, dear Miss Barrett." Elizabeth Barrett was
an invalid with a father who demanded none of his children should ever marry. She therefore believed herself doomed to
spinsterhood. But after five months of ardent correspondence, she agreed to meet Robert Browning in secret in May 1845.
Robert wrote to Elizabeth immediately after his visit, declaring his intention to marry her. Over the next 20 months they
would write nearly 600 letters to one another! Eventually, she and Robert eloped, keeping their marriage secret for fear of
Elizabeth's father's wrath. Indeed, when their marital status was finally revealed, Elizabeth was disinherited. The couple
moved to Italy where they lived together for fifteen years. Elizabeth died in her husband's arms on June 29, 1861.

MONUMENTAL LOVE: Shah Jahan met Arjumand Banu Begum at a bazaar when he was 14 and she was 15. They
married 5 years later and remained inseparable, even after the Shah took other wives. He called her Mumtaz Mahal, which
means "jewel of the palace." Adored by her husband, she was also well-loved by his subjects for her charitable works.
Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to the couple's 14th child. The Shah then spent the next 20 years and most of the country's
treasury, building a monument to their love: The Taj Mahal.

THE LOVE AFFAIR: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy met on the set of the film, Woman of the Year. The two
starred together in 7 more films over 25 years. A devout Catholic, Spencer Tracy refused to divorce his wife. Hepburn
remained "the other woman" in Tracy's life for nearly 30 years, often living next door but never with him. When he grew ill
after years of drinking, Hepburn put her film career on hold to care for him. After he died, she called his widow to say, "You
know, you and I can be friends." Louise Tracy replied, "But you see, I thought you were only a rumor."

INDEPENDENT LOVE: Eleanor Roosevelt was the shy daughter of an alcoholic father and a socialite mother. She
managed to catch the eye of her distant cousin, Franklin Roosevelt and the two married in March, 1905. The marriage
added to her insecurity as she lost her own identity beneath the mantle of wife and mother. After 13 years of marriage,
Eleanor found love letters written by her husband to another woman. Though the couple reconciled, Eleanor decided she no
longer wanted to shape her life around Franklin's wants and needs. She dedicated herself to social issues and promoted the
abolition of child labor, the establishment of a minimum wage, and the passage of legislation to protect workers. After polio
paralyzed Franklin, Eleanor became her husband's "legs," traveling the country on his behalf and becoming a driving force
behind many of the programs of his New Deal policy. When Franklin died on April 12, 1945, Eleanor believed her role in
shaping American politics had come to an end and told reporters, "The story is over."

UNREQUITED LOVE: A rare black swan in the tourist area of Aesee Lake in Meunster, Germany has fallen
bill-over-webbed-feet for a beautiful white swan. He remains by her side at all times, circling her, following her, and warning
others to stay away. The problem? His love is a white swan pedal boat used by tourists on the lake. Since swans mate for
life, there was concern when winter arrived and the black swan showed no sign of leaving his beloved to fly south to warmer
climes. The owner of the pedal boat agreed to have it moved to a nearby zoo so the "couple" can spend the cold nights
cuddled together, safe and warm.

No matter what face your love wears, may you spend the cold nights cuddled together, safe and warm.