I don’t often admit it, but I love a good love story as much as the next person.  Stop laughing, I do.  As few and far between as they have become, they still give me some level of … hope.

No.  Not for me.  Let’s be serious.  But, for some of you other ladies out there, it’s not that far fetched.  It could happen.

I spoke with a friend of mine from way back, middle school way back.  She was having a hard time sleeping, and everyone knows I’m up writing columns and answering the hotline over on the advice column all night.  She was telling me the story of her first Christmas with her now wife.  I’m not going to lie to you people, I damned near got a little misty-eyed.

Unbeknownst to my friend, Meghan, her then-girlfriend had conspired with Meghan’s roommate to get the scoop on her Jack Kerouac collection.  Ok, for a bibliophile and a woman who has secretly wished every Christmas that my partner would buy me Stephen King in hardback because he was aware that my dream is to own the entire collection one day…I was speechless.

How thoughtful and deep was that?  Even if the conspiring had not gone according to plan, and a double was purchased (it wasn’t), that still could not have been outdone without basically moving the entire covenant of Heaven and Earth.  That, without a doubt, is love.  Effort.  Attention.  Thought.  These are the things that speak and say “I truly am interested in doing what makes you happy because I love you”.  

I have received thoughtful gifts, yes, of course.  But, that level?  Not even close.  And I must say because it happened to my friend, I was filled with awe.  Just a truly touched feeling and I couldn’t be happier for her.  Because, you can’t say “oh, they guessed”, or even try to explain that away.  When someone goes out of their way to make you happy in that fashion, that is a keeper.  

And, being possibly one of the most intelligent women I know, she did keep her.  They are happily married, and that is a love story that I can truly derive a level of hope from.  There are people who will make it their business to know you, to appreciate you, and to love you.  Really.  Stop laughing, dammit, I’m not joking this time.

Look, for as often as love has eluded me, I have seen it work beautifully for my amazing friends.  My friends Dora and Jeramie, you couldn’t meet two people more in love.  Just being around them makes you happier.  It truly makes you want to fall in love.  Not me, of course, but I can see it on other people.  And they’re two of the best people you could meet, so together, it’s the type of love that will leave you awestruck.

My friend Tony and his wife Shirley “Squirrel”.  They’re so good together, they’re that couple that can speak to one another in half sentences because they already know the second half of the sentence.  When they’re together, you can feel the absolute love they have for one another, it’s like a force field around them.  It’s powerful.

I love the idea of love.  I love that the people that I love the most have found this amazing version of love that they get to keep for themselves. I do absolutely believe in the power and strength of love.  I have watched it change my friends into, I can’t believe it was even possible, but better people.  That’s how you know it’s right.  That’s how you know they’re for you.

If you are an amazing human being, and you meet someone that turns you into a superhero, you don’t ask dumb ass questions.  You marry that person, put your damned cape on, and handle your business.  I hope that every one of the amazing, kind-hearted and loyal people that I know find the one that transforms them into a Superhero.  I want all of them to wear a cape.  I want to be with them and their person and feel that love that is so stupidly visible on their faces, and really fucking annoying to deal with but it’s also amazing.

If you are a wonderful person, I’m here to assure you, it’s almost your time.  Trust me, I have watched all these kick-ass people find their love.  You’re next, so get ready.  You’ll be nauseating me next.  Great. *rolls eyes, as I wave a well-manicured hand in your direction * Just what I need.  More fucking love.