A Love Story - Retold

When I moved my family back to Wisconsin in 1976, I decided to make the transition as easy as possible for me. I knew there would be adjustments but I wanted some continuity in my life. When we arrived, life seemed to be shutting down for the winter. I needed to have a little bit of sunshine from time to time.

People often asked me how I could move from California to Wisconsin. I tried to explain it by telling them that in Wisconsin, ones goes from a heated house to a heated car to a heated work place. In California ones goes from an air-conditioned house to an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned work place. It has nothing to do with the climate; it is all about the people. It doesn't make any difference where you live; it is about the people that you meet.

One of the first things that I did was to go to Mason's Flower shop and make a deal with them. Every Monday morning they would deliver a small floral arrangement to my office and bill me monthly.

One Monday morning a salesman was sitting there when the flowers arrived. He made a comment about how wonderful it was to be getting flowers. I told him that I got them every week from my best friend. I don't know what he thought about that but it was true; I was my very best friend at that time. I hadn't really gotten to know anyone else outside of my family.

Unless we love ourselves, we can't expect others to love us? I know that sounds narcissistic but it is necessary to feel good about ourselves. If we are expecting other people to love us and make us happy, we haven't read the book because it doesn't work that way.

It is the same with anything that we have. If we want someone to buy our house, then we had better love it and make sure that it is full of love when it is shown to buyers. How about selling a car? If you don't like that car, it will be evident to anyone around. This stuff is tangible!

How about the rule that there is only one person of the opposite sex meant for you? That certainly would be nice but it has not been my experience. When you are lucky enough to find someone that you can have fun with, who makes you smile and you feel good around, you are truly blessed. I have met a few who have made me feel special and some who bring out the best in me, but to expect one person to do it all, is a hard find and if you do, my hat is off to you. My friend, Dorothy talks about this a lot. She tells me that is why she has such a variety of friends. No one person can do it all.

Some people need others around them all the time to make them feel good. I find that rather sad because there are times when we need to know that we can have a good time just being a one-some instead of always a two-some. It is important to enjoy your own company. I know a person who can never be without sound in his life. Day or night he has sound, the TV, the radio, his cell phone, always something to distract him from being with himself. How do you learn about self in a crowd of noises?

Being in love is a special thing. Most of us want this to "be in-love" with someone else. It is OK to just be in love. Find something that makes you laugh. Find something that makes you happy. I would even settle for "pleased" at times.

Love is all around us but we tend to see only the ordinary/unlovable. What can we find to love in this world? How about loving the robin outside the window? How about loving the way the shadows fall on the newly cut grass? How about just loving the fact that we are alive and able to love? I find that I just enjoying feelings, an "In Love" situation is a wonderful feeling.

Why would someone not like themselves? Maybe someone has told them that they are unlovable or they did something that makes them have that feeling. That can be turned around very easily. Find something that you love about yourself. How about the color of your eyes? How about the feeling you get when you hear certain music? We were created in love, therefore we are lovable.

A long time ago, I figured out that Love is the glue that holds the universe together so we all have to do our part. Love something today!