Of love and chocolate

As today is Valentine's day, I have been contemplating the meaning of love. As mushy as this sounds like this post is starting off, bear with me for a moment, and you will see that "mushy" is not my intent. 

Talking to Yiayia and Papa on Skype 

  Of course as I was pondering the word "love", my sweet wife Melanie came to mind. As I thought of her and the possibility that I might be her soulmate, I realized that to her, the title of "soulmate" belongs to chocolate. I also realized that chocolate, and peanut-butter for that matter, were and remain to this day, Melanie's first and only true love's. I arrived at this conclusion when I tried to rationalize the meaning of the word love; ~~Gives satisfaction, always available, comforting, gives intense pleasure, brings joy, happiness, and excitement at just the sight of, and always leaves you feeling good. When you are not side by side, you are missed, craved, desired, coveted, and lusted after.

Apollo spotting Orion, so he doesn't fall

  When you are together, you are treasured, and adored. The one who loves you wants everyone to know that they have you, but they don't want to share. ~~  
  Yup, chocolate, not Mark, fit into this description perfectly. So, it begs the question; what is love anyways? If a person can feel this way about chocolate, what is the difference about how they can feel about another person? I can tell you that I would not give Melanie the ultimatum to choose between me and chocolate. I would lose that one.  
  Love is just a word, a word used to describe how much we really like something...or is it just a word. It is the connection that the word 'love' implies, that matters. It is more than a bond. You can love somebody, but not be bonded to them, or you can be bonded to someone, but not love them. I know that I am starting to sound a little philosophical, but what the point that I am trying to make is that it is hard to really pinpoint what love really is. They say animals are not capable of love, rather that they form very strong bonds. Anyone that has owned a dog which they have been very close to, will argue that point. We have seen this in our own four legged pack, when we watched our dog Lucy wail as she looked over the lifeless body of our beloved Diego when he was hit by a car and killed. Lucy mourned and grieved Diego for many months just as we did. 
  There is no arguing that Melanie and I are bonded and committed to each other, or that we love each other, but I have to say, that there is a deeper 'love' and connection that you feel for your own children. It is magical. I have learned more about love in 3 1/2 years of having children than I have in 40 years of life. Apollo and Orion are the light of my life. They are pure joy to me. Because of them, I have discovered the true meaning of love although I have yet been able to put it into words, however, I will attempt to sum up my definition as best I can. 

  Love is a connection of heart, soul, body, and mind, which allows us to give selflessly, make sacrifices, care for another more than ourself, so much so, that we feel a void inside when that person is absent. It allows us to look beyond an other's faults to see potential and offer encouragement. It is a connection so strong that it allows us to feel an other's emotion; their sorrow, fear, joy, anxiety...we share them all.  In the end, true love makes us want to be a better person because the ones we love, deserve for us to be the best person we can be.


  I am blessed with a beautiful wife that truly loves me, and two amazing little ones that fill my heart with more joy than I could have every imagined. Even during times of stress, hardship, or unwanted change, I never question the amount of love that I have in my life. I never take it for granted and I am thankful for every moment I get to share with my family. I am humbled and honored to be loved by such amazing people and can only hope that I live up to their expectations as a husband and a father. And for Melanie, I can only hope that someday, I will be ranked at the top of her list, second only to chocolate.