Member since:
June 9, 2006

Love Is...On Valentine's Day and Every Day

February 14, 2008 08:18 AM EST

views: 249 | comments: 91

February 14th...Valentine's Day...a day for lovers and love. Okay, so I'm single with no romantic interest in my life. It's always been that way on this date. I've never had a special interest on Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean I don't have love today. I have love EVERY day and am surrounded by it wherever I look. You may be alone like I am...or you may have that certain someone to share your life with.

We all have love around us if we just take the time to see it.
There was a time when I had no idea what love entailed. I knew love existed. I just didn't know where to find it, what it looked like, how to express it, how to recognize it when it was staring me in the face. Then, almost 6 years ago, love came into my life when I was least expecting it...and it came to me in the form of a guy younger than I was. That boy ended up teaching me what love was all about...and became my best friend in the process.

Scott remains my best friend to this day and the love he brought to me is still as strong as ever. He opened my eyes to all the wonders of the world and gave me the best gift of all...the meaning of real love.
      There was a time I thought I knew what love was, but I had just been kidding myself. I had dated and even became engaged to marry twice. It was the thing to do; what society expected of me; take a wife and raise a family...live happily ever after. I hadn't been feeling love at all, but pressure, as that's the way life was supposed to be.   I eventually gave up on that part of my life and began to explore to find what would really make me happy. Shortly after my search began was when Scott crossed my path and we clicked immediately. It was nothing more than a true friendship. I had known hundreds of people prior, but none had been like this boy was. He was 10 years my junior, but so much more worldly. I was amazed this youngster was so on the ball and genuinely cared; even about a stranger (with emphasis on the 'strange' part) like me.
      In getting to know Scott, we grew close fast and within a couple of months, we had become insperable. Where you saw Scott; you saw me...and whenever you saw me; rest assured, Scott was nearby. It wasn't long before we were known as 'the cutest couple in the city'. Though it was all strictly platonic, half the people we knew thought we were partners. Partners in crime was about as far as it went. As our friendship grew, so did our love...love that he taught me about that went further than I ever could have imagined. The love we shared never crossed the line. The love he showed me continued to expand to include many facets of life.
      Though I was far from being the best person in the world, he let me learn it was okay to love myself just the way I was; imperfections and all. I was able to love others for who they were, too, by loving him. Though I had originally thought he was perfect, I discovered he had flaws like we all do and loved him just the same accepting him for who he is just as he had done to me...and I had just as much wrong with me as he had right about himself. We were two guys who loved one another and had no problem with that. If others were troubled by that; they were the ones who had to deal with it.
      My knowledge of love continued to expand to include all those small things in life that end up meaning so much. The love I felt reached out to include animals and how they love back unconditionally, no matter what I look or sound like. Love them and they love back tenfold and give of it freely. I can't help but love kitties; so fluffy, soft and warm. I see a cat out and about and I just have to try to say hello and pet them. When I run across kittens sound asleep, I just can't help but to say, "Awwww".

Though he's been gone for four months now, I still miss my F.N. Kat, who I rescued off the streets when he was young and had to find a new home for when I moved to a new city and into a building that doesn't allow pets. It brings a tear to my eye because I loved him and could feel his love towards me in return. I can step outside my building and feel the love when one of the neighbor's dogs walks up for a quick visit not really even knowing me; just knowing I love him for being the beautiful puppy he is.

I even have 'wildlife' in the city approach me to share in a bit of love...and hope for a handout, too. Maybe it's because they've been somewhat domesticated living in the midst of people, but I don't see them coming up to everyone.

I can walk past a neighbor's home and see the flowers in their garden feeling love from the beauty in bloom...the softness of the petals and the burst of colors...a gift from nature.

Simply stepping outside my front door, I'm surrounded by love with all the life this neighborhood possesses...the people coming and going, so vibrant and alive...the sights and sounds I so desperately longed to be a part of.

I specifically moved here because of the activity and wouldn't want to live in any other part of the city than my 'cafe strip' on Park Avenue. Most here are total strangers, but love is in the air everywhere I turn. I love to people-watch and feel joy just in observing others having a good time in passing or sitting together sharing a good laugh.

There are many small things that make me feel love. I can crawl into my bed at the end of the day, snuggle in for a good night's sleep and sense the love of such a comfortable, restful feeling. And I love the smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee when I arise to greet a brand new day. I love a good doughnut with my first cup even though I know a more nutritious breakfast would be a better choice. I love a big bag of candy for dinner when I should be eating a regular meal. And I love a bowl of ice cream for dessert when I know I should be eating a piece of fruit. Don't those strawberries between the custard and whipped cream count?
I love going to the lake here and just sitting listening to the waves lap against the shore and hearing the seagulls call as they fly overhead. I even love getting caught in a storm while I'm there hearing the raindrops gently hitting the ground...and then looking up and seeing a rainbow gracing the sky.

I love hopping on a bus and letting it take me anywhere in the city I want to go; having someone else drive so I can look out the windows and view everything as I pass by. I even love the sound of traffic and car horns in the parking lot across the street from my building just knowing all is well and life continues around me. Being in a city, there are many things to experience; some which are even a little weird to me. I love the diversity and how people are free to be themselves and live how they want. I love that there are even those who freak me out, a freak of nature myself, and make me go "EEK!!!"

Strange, yes, but I love that they love themselves enough to live the lifestyle they choose. I even love the sound of the little dustmop of a dog the girl who lives behind me has...except maybe when he starts yipping at two o'clock in the morning when I'm sound asleep and it wakes me up...or when she has him out on our fire escape going potty through the grating. I still love the puppy, though I'm not too big of a fan of hers when that happens.
There are so many things for us to love. All we have to do is pause, take a look around and seriously think about those things that mean so much to us, whether it's a living thing...person, animal or plant...or an inanimate object or sensation. We even find love here on Gather. I only really know one person here, but have come to 'meet' many others over the past year (today being the first anniversay of the day I began to write and share with you all on Gather; experiencing something I had never tried before in my life). I've grown close to a some people here though we've never come face to face. I don't know why they've taken a liking to me, but I can feel a love between us and I consider them to be special in my life. Actually, I've connected to many members here, so it was bound to happen with over 900 people in my network. To all of you, no matter if you're single like I am or whether you have a significant other, there's all kinds of love for you to share. Just reach out and know we'll always be here for each other. To all of you, I wish you love, not only today on Valentine's Day, but every other day out of the year as well. I may not have a special someone to share today with; no one to give me flowers or a box of candy, no one to go to dinner with and hold hands or share a warm embrace and kiss with when the day is done. It doesn't matter because love knows no bounds and is unending as it continues to spread throughout your life. Love to you all!

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