If music be the food of love...

Recently I had a few conversations with a few different people (all of whom I love dearly) and always the discussion wound its way to love. And what is that about? The importance of love shining through it all? Through the gossip and bullshit and idiocy. Through the Tiger Woods scandal and troops deploying to Afghanistan. Through the economy woes and droughts and floods and hatred and hunger. There is, always flowing, this bright blue wave of love. Just pulsating around and in us hoping to be touched and held and accepted. Because if I learned anything from Sex and the City (the movie) it's that, "Love is the thing..."

And it is. It is the thing. Have you read "Eat, Pray, Love"? If you haven't, get a copy and thumb through it. You may not feel its transformative powers the way I did, but maybe just maybe you will like it a little and find one kernel of something special in it. I liked the bit where she says that all the wars in history have been fought over only two questions: Who is in charge here? and How much do you love me?

And my god, how true is that? How much do you love me? I will go to war to prove my love for you. So answer me, how much do you love me? And so the stories go. And the wars are fought.

Some people confuse lust with love. Others seek a father for a child and cling to a love look-a-like. Still others self destruct; they receive the gift of true love and for myriad reasons they push it away, deeming themselves unworthy.

And true love waits. It is patient and kind the Corinthians say. It isn't boastful. It's just there, shimmering underneath the detritus of life. Shiny, and hopeful. Love waits.

And the older I get the more I know love. You can't hold it in your hands. You can't demand it stay. You can't bully it or compliment it into sticking around. No. Love is smarter than that. Love is smarter than us all. You must simply accept it.

And I do. I love others with a bit of reckless abandon. And when I really really love someone it's a little like this:

I love you now and I love you always. I love you for who you were and who you are. I love who I am when I'm with you, that your love makes me want to be better. I love that together we do things neither of us could do alone. I forgive you, already, for the mistakes you haven't yet made but will. I forgive you for all the times you hurt me, because love hurts those it needs the most. I love everything about you, even the things that drive me crazy because that's what makes you unique.

To cute bf, my best friends, my family: I love you all, this holiday season and always!