If you're new around these parts, I just want to say how much I appreciate your dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!

You know I really appreciate the work you do. I mean, what with all that flying around, keeping tabs on the emotional states of, oh, billions of people around the world, and those arrows – well, I just don’t know how you do it.

I remember a time, though, when I was beginning to wonder about you. I mean, I’d been hit by one or two of your arrows before, and each time it happened, I thought it was THE time. See, I believed in you, and what you could do. But it never seemed to take, if you know what I mean.

Each time, things just didn’t seem to pan out. Oh, there were lots of reasons, really. Sometimes it was me; sometimes it was her. Ah, well; as I like to say around here: c’est la vie – that’s life in the Middle Zone. In any case, I suppose the bottom line is, it just wasn’t meant to be. Or maybe it was like, you know, practice.

As I said, though, I have to admit that I was really beginning to wonder about you. Was there really such a thing as True Love? I mean, other than in the movies, or in books? If it really existed, then how in the world would I ever find it? Even more important, how would I recognize it?

And you know that thing we laughingly call Love At First Sight? Well, it seemed ludicrous that such a thing could be real, you know? I mean, c’mon – something as complicated as love, happening that quickly? Nope; no way!

But then one day… well, one day I met her.

It was a most amazing and profound moment; to me, it was only yesterday. We were in a room, perhaps twenty people or so. She stood up and said a few words. I turned to look at her – and for an eternal moment it was as if time stood still and the universe came to a complete stop.

Alas, I’m sorry to say I don’t remember what she was wearing (although she probably does!), or what I was wearing (ditto), or any of those little details she’s so good at.

No, what I remember is the absolute perfection of her face, her smile – and well, for want of a better term, her spirit. At that moment, nothing else mattered. It was as if the center of this suddenly motionless universe was right there in the room with me… and even more amazingly, it was close enough to touch!

Needless to say, never having experienced Love At First Sight, I didn’t recognize it for what it was. After all, at the time, I wasn’t even really looking, if you know what I mean. To this day I can’t even describe exactly how I knew; but somehow, I just knew. This was It. This – ah, this was the Real Thing.

Oh, I know she acted all aloof and everything. She even tried introducing me to every other girl she knew, just to get me off the track, but I wasn’t fooled. As if I could be deterred. I knew; and deep down inside where the heart really lives, I knew that she knew, too.

What’s really weird is it seemed like everybody else knew, too. Our friends, acquaintances – heck, the very first time I met him (and without anyone saying a word) even her father knew! But I guess you can’t hide something like that from a loving, caring father like hers; he could probably have seen it coming a mile off…

Eventually, though, she admitted the truth to herself and to me. And so we married.

Well, it’s been over twenty-five years since we stepped up in front of our friends and our families and said those words (“I do!”). A lot of time has passed; a lot of memories created. What an amazing experience it’s been, being married to the Love of My Life!

Sure, we’ve had our ups and downs – growing old together just wouldn’t be as interesting without the joys and the trials that go along with it, you know? It’s kinda like ol’ Dino used to sing, When love hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie – well Bubba, I’m here to tell ya: that’s amore! To be honest, I wouldn’t want to change a thing.

So anyway, Cupid, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your work, and everything you’re doing to help make the world a better place. I’ll tell ya; life just wouldn’t be the same without you!

Keep up the good work!

(photos: Love letters straight from your heart, by cattycamehome, and Heart shaped bokeh, by yumi)

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[Note from the proprietor: In addition to being a soliloquy to Mrs. MZM in honor of Valentine's Day this year, this also happens to be an entry in a group writing project called "Dear Cupid", being hosted over at Between The Lines. Go check it out!]

You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!