Love is...

Do you remember those stickers that were really popular in the 70s? You know, the one of the two naked kids on top of the world holding hands. At the top of the sticker it would say "Love is..." And then at the bottom of the sticker were various different answers to what "Love is..." Like some would say "Forever and Ever" or "Eating Chocolate" My last girlfriend gave me one that I still carry around (it's actually a little credit card-esque thing that you carry in your wallet). The one that Jenn gave me says "Love is..." "Being Together"

She was right.

There are soooo many rants that come to mind when talking about subjects like this - the commercialism of a core value like love, the ridiculousness of trying to explain such a complex subject in such a short space, etc. However, I thought it might be interesting to see what "answers" I could come up with and possibility expand on them instead. SO here goes..

Love is...

Here Today and Gone Tomorrow
Compassionate
Patient
Kind
Lonely - unless there are two of you
A full time job
Like a Poker Game - you have to know when to hold 'em
The Greatest Thing in the World
What I have to give you - Today, Tomorrow, Forever

Love is like a casino. Everyone goes in there looking for the same thing - to win big. Everyone has terrible odds going in. Everyone is going to lose some and win some. Some will win more than others. Some will lose more than others. Some will experience the thrills of winning the big jackpot, and some will experience the heartbreak of the most devastating loss they have ever known. And still others will experience both. Some enjoy their time in the casino, and some hate it and can't wait to leave.

However, you can only keep a winning streak alive for so long before you lose. So there is only one way to come out of love (or a casino) a winner. When you win the big jackpot, take the winnings and walk out of the casino a winner.

It's a little easier to realize that you won the jackpot in a casino and know that you should leave (I mean they have buzzers and lights and such, how do you miss that as a sign?) when you are ahead than it is to realize you won the jackpot in love. Many times, in love, you can win and keep playing until you lost it all (and in my case - lost it all again). I guess that the luckiest players have a tendency not to realize that they are indeed lucky (my family would probably call it blessed instead of lucky, but whatever works for you). They don't understand until all too late that they needed to capitalize on their good fortune.

You never know how good the good times really are unless you experience the bad times as well. As Steve Earle said in his song Halo 'Round the Moon from the Transcendental Blues CD:

There's no shelter from the storm
Without the lightening and the rain
And love would hold no charm
If it wasn't for the pain
And it's always been that way
No matter what you do
And no matter what you say
There's a halo 'round the moon

I've been one of the lucky ones throughout my life. The highs have been thrilling, and the lows have been almost unbearable. Today is a low. I should have walked out after the last jackpot that I won, but that was ten years ago next month. Some experts tell me that I could have even walked out a winner as little as two years ago, but I didn't. I hope the experts show me how to come out a winner this time, because I'm ready to walk out of the casino and this has been my favorite jackpot of all time.

Love is... Being Together

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