Whether you acknowledge the day or ignore it, you’re making a statement. So here’s mine:

I choose to think of today as a day to reflect on the love we have in our life: that we give and that we receive. So on the way home from our weekend excursion, I selected a group of songs on my iPhone with a theme of love, hit the shuffle setting, placed my hand in the hand of my husband, leaned back, and let the music play as I though about who is in my life, how much I love them and feel loved back and what love means to me. Really means to me. And I cried for the people I have in my life who surround me with love.

I also realized I love all of love, in all it’s meanings:

The sappy, saccharine, romantic flowers & candy stuff, the grand gestures, the genuflect ring offers and rose petal covered beds. I love the hand holding and hugs, the dancing to your favorite song even when it plays in elevators, the gentle kisses for no reason at all. I love the showing up at a friends house to help them move, and bringing soup to them at home when they’re sick. I love the hospital visits, late night phone calls, cuddling movie sessions and crazy drunk ass karaoke songs to one another. I love the hand holding and laughing until it hurts and the hugs until it doesn’t. I love the parties, the stories, the dinners and drives. The Birthday messages on facebook and the offers of support through loss of job and loved ones. I love the harmless flirting and the true empathy in pain as we try to absorb the hurt and the true show of excitement when we try to share the joy. I love the sharing of pleasure, loving with our minds and hearts and bodies. I love all the things we do for one another above and beyond saying “I love you” to show we love one another.

I have known and lost, grasped for and shunned, hoarded and shared great love in my life. I have been hurt more by those I love than I have ever been hurt by strangers or those that hate me. I have felt love so encompassing that all I could do was laugh or cry or both. I have felt passion so intensely that it took me days to come down from it. I have known love in all it’s levels and permutations and I know that it’s something I can’t and don’t want to live without. Too many of us think love is only a romantic mate. That is untrue. The world is full of love and people who want to share it with you if you let them and truly understand and see what love is.

So here is a list of some, although not all, of the things I love:

• My husband.
• My dog.
• Our home.
• My friends.
• Cosmos.
• Sex.
• Men.
• Movies.
• Music.
• Summer breezes.
• Skinny dipping.
• Comic Books.
• Dancing.
• Laughter.
• Hugs.
• Toronto.
• Provincetown.
• The color Green.
• Masturbation.
• Car trips.
• Spin Class.
• Feeling good.
• Cleansing crying.
• Blogging.
• Drawing.
• Playing Trombone.
• Learning new things.
• Opening minds.
• Losing weight.
• Protecting people from harm.
• Truth.
• Coloring.
• Crocheting.
• My wedding ring.
• Bowling.
• The Bear Community.
• Getting naked with friends.
• Gentle tickles.
• Massages.
• Hot Tubs.
• Bald heads.
• Beards.
• Furry chests.
• Ferrets.
• Fridays.
• Pass Days.
• Paychecks.
• Compliments
• Freedom.
• Being gay.

So, what are the things, places, people and activities you love? If you can name just one in any category, you know love in some form. And if you need to feel loved by another person, physically or emotionally, then reach out to the people in your life and ask them for it. You’d be surprised who is ready willing and able to give you love when you need it, and even when you don’t.

My wish for you all is to feel a moment of true love today, however it manifests.

Thank you for your comments, your concern and your compliments. You add to the love in my life by being here.