I know I write about love and all the mess that goes with it, but lately I’ve been scratching my head at a few things. A few instances have come my way…so, in order to keep this fiction, I’ll describe it as if it were in a book.
It’d been three weeks since Roy held Meg in his arms. Smelled her flower scented hair, touched her velvety skin. Three weeks of deprivation from seeing that little dimple in her cheek when she smiled, heard her laugh in person, or got trapped in those brown eyes, begging him not to go. Was it weird that all he thought about at the convention was her? Had he fallen so fast for her? He wasn’t sure, but if this is what his brother warned him of, he might just be dating the girl he was going to marry. He called her the second the plane touched down.
“Meg?”
“Roy. I’m so glad to hear your voice. Are you home yet?”
“Just touched down. I’m headed your way just as soon as I pick up my luggage.” He felt himself smiling as he talked to her. “What’s going on? You sound strange. Are you okay?”
“I’ve been sort of congested.”
Roy’s smile faded as concern furrowed his brow. “Are you contagious?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Meg asked, clearing her throat.
“Have you been tested?”
“For what?”
“For whatever you have.”
The folks on the plane began opening the overhead bins, grabbing for their suitcases. Roy sat stoic, staring out at the little truck coming for the luggage underneath the plane.
“Roy, I’m congested.” She sneezed and paused. Was she waiting for him to bless her? “Hey, I’ve got baked spaghetti in the oven and a bottle of chilled wine in the fridge. I can hardly wait to see you. I found a movie we can watch later. I just want to snuggle with you and forget these three weeks happened. I missed you so much.”
It was all Roy wanted to hear and more. But that sneeze. It sounded a bit loaded. Like something was behind it. Viral? Infectious? There was no telling without a proper diagnoses. What was her deal? Why didn’t she feel it was important to get checked?
“Meg, I’m sorry. I’m going to go home. That is, unless you want to get cleared from a doctor. Then I can come over and we can do the whole dinner, wine, and snuggle thing.”
And there you have it. I get the yuk of it. The what-in-the-world-is-wrong-with-you bit. But when you’re in love, who cares? I know from personal experience, when I’ve been under the weather (even during us dating), my guy never, not once, missed a chance to be with me for any reason. If anything he’d try to kiss me goodnight or something, I’d step back and say I didn’t want to give him something and he’d say ‘I don’t care’ and grab me for a big ol’ kiss. I mean that’s love, my friend. Because love is dumb. Love isn’t smart. It’s blind and dumb. But let me tell you, from what I’ve been witnessing, it’s gotten to another level of stupid.
Another instance….I know a person who loves someone and they love them, too. But there’s no moment of conceding that’s what it is. Instead, couples nowadays just wait it out, “give it time” to feel real and right. As if a sign is going to appear over the head of the first party and illuminate green if it’s to be; red if it’s not. And if no color is detected, then they just have to continue waiting.
Will romance books get read more, just so people can feel vindicated by fiction when a guy or girl runs up to the door of their intended, grabs them when they open it, and lays one on them. Because they’re stuck home, not able to get tested for congestion? Either that, or fiction will begin mirroring what’s going on and no one will ever get resolved feelings for one another. Everyone will just be hanging out until the planets align, everyone ‘feels’ good about themselves, and the status quo is met.
I’m glad I dated when I did, or maybe it’s perhaps ‘dated who I did’. Someone who was resolved with his feelings for me. There was no bush beating, no game playing (well, not on his part ;)), it was clear that he wanted me. Any time and all the time. Sickness and in health. No tests necessary. And while I’m driving in the car playing this tune of what’s love got to do with it, what about aspirations or job security. Another reason people hold off things. Both are worthy things. But sometimes they aren’t picked up on a radar just yet. The guy or girl might be in a growing season. The question of what they want to do in life hasn’t cooked long enough in the oven to full fruition. Intention is there, but timing is off. Do we throw out the water and the baby? If I LOVE someone, I don’t care if they sell fruit flies by the seashore. I love him. Period. I can get behind fruit flies if he feels the same for me. People go through seasons. One day he’ll sell enough and be done with it. He may go to bed and dream up a new game, sell it and become a millionaire. Either way, I’m taking a chance on him. On love. Anyone who requires a look at my portfolio and wants a map of my future, step on. You’re not ready for me.
So, does true love exist in this next generation, or is it just coming in a package of ‘pass this test and we’ll see’. To me, I know pretty quickly if I love you. When I do, I can move the earth for you. When I don’t, I might be asking you for your portfolio.
That’s just my take on things. I hope I was able to deliver it with effectiveness. 
