Love.

I was looking through another blog and found this article. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4-8 year olds:

“What does Love mean?”

Here are some of their answers…

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s Love.”

Rebecca - age 8

“When someone Loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

Billy - age 4

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

Terri - age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”

Danny - age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.”

Emily - age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

Bobby - age 7

“If you want to learn to Love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”

Nikka - age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”

Noelle - age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”

Tommy - age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.”

Cindy - age 8

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”

Elaine - age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.”

Chris - age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”

Mary Ann - age 4

“I know my older sister Loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”

Lauren - age 4

“When you Love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.”

Karen - age 7

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”

Mark - age 6

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I Love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”

Jessica - age 8

Is it just me, or are these the most incredible responses ever? One of my favorite people in this entire world, my 9-year-old niece, says and does the most incredible things. I wish children did not grow up, get their heart broken, and become jaded fools like the rest of us.

Love [luhv]
-noun
1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for parent, child, or friend.
3. Sexual passion or desire

Obviously, Love comes in all shapes and sizes. I definitely Love coffee in the morning, I definately love my job and I definitely Love my best friend – but definitely not in the same way. Jim and Bob both Love Karen – but Jim Loves the hue of her eyes and the way she pushes her hair out of her face when she laughs. Bob? Bob Loves the way she swings her arms when she walks and how she addresses the checkout woman at the gas station by her first name. Love is relative. Love is whatever you want it to be, whatever you make it, and sometimes, it just is what it is. Love is uncontrollable. Then, there are times; Love is not Love at all. And that is when Love gets you into trouble.

In my life, I overuse the phrase “I Love you...” just so long as I mean it. I say it to my friends, I say it to my family, and I say it to my TiVo after a long day of work. Perhaps it’s a side effect from losing so many Loved ones – most all at a young age and tragically. I guess I would rather have there be no doubt than an “if only” lurking even at the expense of some not taking it seriously. (And I do mean it. Every time I say it. Or I wouldnt say it. It's as simple as that. Really.)

Growing up my family was never particularly emotional or touchy-feely. I am by far the most expressive person in my family and as a kid; I had intense anxiety about death. At age 15 or 16 I remember starting to have the most overwhelming urge to shout, “Love ya!” to my parents whenever I left the house. Looking back, I am positive my parents thought it was strange behavior as that was not a common practice in our household. Now, almost 10 years later I still say those words as I leave the house and if I forget as I rush out the door with one heel on, the other in my left hand and a piece of string cheese hanging out of my mouth – I feel uneasy as I pull out of my driveway.

I may be a sap – scratch that, I am most definitely a sap – but I Love Love. I Love the smell of Love, the touch of Love, and the relief things I Love bring me.

Do we ever really lose a Love? Or is that Love just transferred from one thing to another? I think Love lasts forever but maybe the type of Love changes. Karen and Jim have been together for years, but Karen is not in Love with Jim anymore – she is in Love with Bob. Does Karen have Love for Jim? Absolutely – Love lasts forever. But Karen wakes up thinking about Bob. Perhaps Bob doesn’t feel the same way, but Karen will carry that Love around until her heart grows tired and that Love transfers to Peter. I think I have taken this too far…

I don’t know much. But I do know that Love is tricky. And messy. And heartbreaking. And all consuming. And worth it.