Portland, Maine has a Valentine’s Day Bandit. Or rather, we have a whole pack of them. But no one has ever ‘fessed up to being responsible for the taping of hundreds of photocopied pink-red hearts all over businesses (and the occasional statue) across the Portland peninsula every Valentine’s Day since Feb. 14, 1976.
Given how many businesses receive the honor in the dark wee hours of the morning every Valentine’s Day, there are clearly several bandits (or Phantoms, according to some) in on the scheme. In recent years there has been a heart flag flying from the 204-year-old Portland Observatory viewable from my window (despite that the historic signal tower is closed in the off season). A huge banner gets draped from the I. M. Pei-designed museum of art. One year there was a heart flag run up the central fire station flagpole (a fire lieutenant denied any knowledge). But none of these people aiding and abetting are making a peep.
The truth is, nobody in Portland wants to know. This is easily the best-kept secret in town, and we like it that way. I have friends who make a point of going out for an early walk the morning of Feb. 14 every year after the Sun is up to be sure to see all the paper hearts before anyone takes them as souvenirs. Though I have to say, they generally remain untouched through the day. I think we have a certain reverence for the taped-up copy paper; it’s an extension of our gratitude and glee toward these people determined to make a whole city feel loved without seeking credit for it.