A Fine Romance

Dear J,

It was really good to see you again last week. The pasta you cooked was delicious; I can still taste the eggplant and fresh tomatoes on my tongue.

It has been a while since we spent time together. As they say,

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I, ---
I took the one less traveled by,

So the roles have changed. You're now the housewife, and I… well, let's not get into that. =) I am happy to see you and P are doing well. I can tell you both are in love; and how well I know that feeling.

Some say love is a river, some says love's a silly song. Some say love is all around us. It lifts us up where we belong.

Looking at both of you, I had a sudden feeling P is your first great love. And I cannot help but feel both happy and worried for you.

I guess this is the 30-year old me speaking; the one who's a little bit scarred and battle-weary. There are only two possible endings, we both know that. You either get the fairytale happy-ever-after or a Greek tragedy.

If I look at statistics, the odds are against you. But then again, I cannot deny the magic of love. It can shatter boundaries and expectations and bring you both unimaginable joy and sorrow. Indeed, that fairytale ending is possible and I will hope with you.

As Cristina Nehring said in her recent treatise, A Vindication of Love, love "at its strongest and wildest and most authentic...is a demon," a religious faith and a "divine madness."

I hope you get to experience all of that, a love that is ferocious, passionate. The road ahead will not be easy; it is laid with traps and bumps and you might get lost along the way. But you will always have your true north to guide you home.

And you will have your friends like me, who will cheer you and keep you company during your journey.

Love,
K