Love

Suzanne Somers was an admired person in our household. My Mom followed her and read all her books. I think I read one of her books.

She passed a few days ago and her husband’s love letter to her in her final hours has been everywhere.

I ended up clicking some article to read it and immediately had all the feels.

Had to post a copy.

Written by Alan Hamel:

LOVE

I USE IT EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I USE IT AT THE END OF EMAILS TO MY LOVING FAMILY. I EVEN USE IT IN EMAILS TO CLOSE FRIENDS. I USE IT WHEN I’M LEAVING THE HOUSE.

THERE’S LOVE, THEN LOVE YOU AND I LOVE YOU!!

THEREIN LIES SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE USE LOVE.

SOMETIMES I FEEL OBLIGED TO USE LOVE, RESPONDING TO SOMEONE WHO SIGNED LOVE IN THEIR EMAIL, WHEN I’M UNCOMFORTABLE USING LOVE BUT I USE IT ANYWAY.

I ALSO USE LOVE TO DESCRIBE A GREAT MEAL.

I USE IT TO EXPRESS HOW I FEEL ABOUT A SHOW ON NETFLIX.

I OFTEN USE LOVE REFERRING TO MY HOME, MY CAT GLORIA, TO THINGS GLORIA DOES, TO THE TASTE OF A CANTALOUPE I GREW IN MY GARDEN.

I LOVE THE TASTE OF A FRESHLY HARVESTED ORGANIC ROYAL JUMBO MEDJOOL DATE. I LOVE BITING A FIG OFF THE TREE. I LOVE WATCHING TWO GIANT BLACKBIRDS WHO LIVE NEARBY SWOOPING BY MY WINDOW IN A POWER DIVE.

MY DAILY LIFE ENCOMPASSES THINGS AND PEOPLE I LOVE AND THINGS AND PEOPLE I AM INDIFFERENT TO.

I COULD GO ON AD INFINITUM, BUT YOU GET IT.

WHAT BRAND OF LOVE DO I FEEL FOR MY WIFE SUZANNE?

CAN I FIND IT IN ANY OF THE ABOVE?

A RESOUNDING NO!!!!

THERE IS NO VERSION OF THE WORD THAT IS APPLICABLE TO SUZANNE AND I EVEN USE THE WORD APPLICABLE ADVISEDLY.

THE CLOSEST VERSION IN WORDS ISN’T EVEN CLOSE.

IT’S NOT EVEN A FRACTION OF A FRACTION OF A FRACTION.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE DOES NOT DO IT.

I’LL TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU DOESN’T DO IT.

I WEEP WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY FEELINGS FOR YOU.

FEELINGS… THAT’S GETTING CLOSE, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY.

55 YEARS TOGETHER, 46 MARRIED AND NOT EVEN ONE HOUR APART FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS. EVEN THAT DOESN’T DO IT.

EVEN GOING TO BED AT 6 O’CLOCK AND HOLDING HANDS WHILE WE SLEEP DOESN’T DO IT.

STARING AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE WHILE YOU SLEEP DOESN’T DO IT.

I’M BACK TO FEELINGS.

THERE ARE NO WORDS.

THERE ARE NO ACTIONS.

NO PROMISES.

NO DECLARATIONS.

EVEN THE GREEN SHADED SCHOLARS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HAVE SPENT 150 YEARS AND STILL HAVE FAILED TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE WORD.

SO I WILL CALL IT, ‘US’, UNIQUELY, MAGICALLY, INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL ‘US.’

I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU, MY BEAUTIFUL SUZANNE, FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.

ALAN

***

Sigh. (Romantic sigh…)

There are no words, just feelings.