I was talking with my wife about love the other day. We were discussing what movies describe it as, and on the other extreme what advertising describes it.

Movies describe love as something spotted from across the room, something that is instant, a spark or lightning bolt in some cases. Love is something that happens during some of the saddest or craziest times in the movies. Over a funeral perhaps? At an adventure park? A party between strangers? It is quite humorous to me. People want that type of love, hell who wouldn’t? But that is not how love works. Love cannot be wrapped into a small little package, say 90 minutes. Love is wonderful and amazing but it is HARD. And takes lots of work.

Now commercials would tell you if you love someone, BUY them something. This could not be further from the truth, and if the person you are with can be bought, run, run far and run fast, because I can guarantee you that money doesn’t buy love, ask Trump or Hef. It can only lease it. And do you really wanna lease love? Cause leased love gets horrible millage.

Now Love, TRUE love. Or Twu Wuv, as one of my favorite movies would say, that is the stuff you want. That is the stuff worth fighting over. Getting back to the discussion me and K were having, I told her that while the pretty ring on her finger was nice, it didn’t show my love for her. Just like the less than pretty (my choice) ring on my finger didn’t show her love for me. K and I have a habit of talking in bed, almost every night

As we sit in bed each night I know I will be sleeping well when she reaches out her foot and touches mine. We have a king size bed so we have space, but that foot. Just saying, hi, it is more comforting than words. Everynight we are in bed together we do that. That is love.

Sleeping in a chair after my shoulder ( I had to sleep upright) surgery so she wasnt far away. That is love.

Cleaning me up in the shower after a car wreck in a hospital shower. That is love.

I know my wife loves me and I have done similar things for her, to say there would toot my own horn. But I take care of her as well.

I guess what it comes down too, and I wanted to get this out of my head was, love is how you act. Not what you buy or say. That’s my take on it. I am sure I forgot to say a few things so maybe more later.

Facta non Verbum Deeds not words. (another quote from my father. and some older guy)

If you are lucky enough to have found love. Enjoy it, embrace it. fight for it. It’s worth it.

I know.

J

I have spent the past week or so helping friends of our move into a new house. They are good people and needed the hepl, they were deservering as well.

So my rather old body has been moving boxes, carrying couches, and doing all other body numbing tasks.

So as I woke today, and told myself, take the day off, I reached for the bottle of advil and rolled back over into bed to snooze some more.

My wife and daughter took off to go shopping, and spend mother daughter time together, I call it that because it means I get the house to myself.

I was sitting watching T.V. when I got a knock on my door, it was one of my neighbors. Apparently the night before, some rather unsavory kids or young adults  took it upon themselves to take black and green spraypaint and color my new cedar fence. Did I get my day off, no. I spent it power washing my new fence, and while a lot of it came off not all of it did without destroying my fence. I am Jack’s rage. (please tell me you are movie savvy enough to get that quote)

I cannot fathom what would go through a teenagers or young adults mind. I was young once, and I was a rotten kid as well. But I NEVER, never hurt someone elses property. I built this fence myself. (Friends did help) But this was a weekend project. I am flabbergasted. I am hurt, I am saddened. Most of all I am pissed off.

I would very much like to find a car or object of the criminals who did this and deface it so they knew the pain. Now, I know you are saying, they won’t learn any lesson. But everyone cares about something, and if I knew what theirs was it would have my eight lettered last name written on it in black spray paint.

So tomorrow, I will power wash again and break out a dark stain and pray I can have a normal looking fence in my suban neighborhood.

But tonight I wont sleep as well. Because something was taken from me. And it hurt.

J