Love is All You Need

Well, February is almost a week past and here I find myself still writing on the theme of love. But since love's generally of interest to most people, I figure you'll indulge me just a little longer on this one. After all, last time I checked we still have freedom of speech in this country, right? And blogs are like TV -- if you don't like the program, change the frigging station.

I used to think that we chose who we would love, that it was something akin to making a really big purchase -- buying a car or a house, maybe. Not something you want to screw up because of what it'll cost you, but still more like a bargain struck between two people, a construct created to satisy your individual agendas.

Now I'm thinking, though, that love's what happens when you make an effort to stand in another person's shoes and see beyond yourself. Maybe your horizons are not exactly the same, but when you try to tell each other what it is you see, there's joy in the sharing, and sometimes the perfect ecstasy of recognition. The trick is, you have to keep listening.

"If it is your time, love will track you down like a cruise missile." -- Lynda Barry

"Love is like quick-silver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away." -- Dorothy Parker