What is love?

Flowers and chocolates? Odes to beauty and grace? Romantic notions fade as the years go by. Flowers wilt and sweets add inches to once trim waists.

Love is putting up with my partner's dark moods and sharp tongue.

Love is the noisy slurp he takes of my tea, the stolen bites of my sandwich.

Love is the willingness we share to lay down our lives for each other. It's the fervent hope that we will live instead, that day's end will find us safe in each other's arms.

Love is when he looks at me and smiles.

-- THE END --

February 2008