“Where love is, no disguise can hide it for long;
where it is not, none can simulate it.”
– François de La Rochefoucauld, – the Maximes, #70
17th Century Nobleman and Philosopher

That’s right. I read other stuff too.

Have you ever had a great conversation that changed the entire way you viewed life? The film Spanglish brings up this idea, with two people, one married, the other his employee, who shouldn’t be together due to life’s circumstances. They share a profound moment of their hearts and minds, never consummating what they know is true love between each other. They never even hold hands.

Looking back on my life I can’t say that I’ve had many, but I should feel fortunate that there have been some. Sometimes through the hustle and bustle of everyday, we forget one basic thing.

Connection.

It’s a morbid concept, I know. But it’s true. We only get one chance to live this life and we spend most of our time worrying about money, fretting over “what if” scenarios and running away from everything like “it’s gaining on us.” The only thing that people should be running to or from is one connection with someone to the next.

I’m no judge of your life, and I’m certainly no angel. But, be advised, I’m not talking about bed-hopping here. That’s not healthy for your psyche, and it certainly won’t do anything to fix your problems. It’s just another form of running from your problems.

What I am talking about is remembering you’re human and that others are human too. It’s important to go out and meet new people. Learn new things. I know most people my age think they’re still invincible and will live forever. But we don’t.

If I’m lucky to have lived to a ripe old age, I want to look back on the experience of my life, hoping the good outweighs the bad.

No scratch that.

I want to look bad and hope that joy and laughter outweighs the “good.” I don’t want my life to have been “good.” I want my life to have been full, rich, exhilarating. To be able to ponder back at this moment exactly and go, “Wow. I can’t believe I actually did that!” and smile.

I’m sure the strangers on the bus bench next to me will probably scoot away wondering what the crazy old lady is goofily grinning about, but they’ll understand when they’re old as dirt, someday.

Some probably wonder why I get somewhat doom-and-gloom, dropping the whole “death cloud” on these more recent posts.

Sorry, precious readers. I don’t mean for these to be sad. I mean for them to be encouraging.  (Remember encouragement versus influence?)

Today’s DWC wanted to have a scene with only dialogue, and holy cow, what a DWC!  I’m bringing back the characters Ethan and Sharon, our deep night dynamic duo, as they discuss their theories on what true love actually is, and if it even exists.

Way to leap for the brass ring, eh?

What do you think? Does true love really exist?  Do you believe in the concept of soul mates or that it’s possible to love more than one person in your lifetime?  What about in the case of widowers?  Was there only one true, great love in their life, or can there be many?

Daily Writing Challenge

Day 23: Write a scene between your character and another character of your choice (whether brought up previously in the other scenes or not) using only dialog. The setting and situation is up to you, but you cannot not use descriptive exposition, only dialog.

“So, Sharon. What do you suggest?”

“Hmm… I recommend either the Boston cream or the strawberry rhubarb. And of course, their apple is to die for.”

“All right. Apple with a slice of cheddar it is.”

“Cheese? Seriously?”

“It’s the best. You should try it. So why were out there by yourself?”

“My schedule is wonky. I work nights, and it’s easier to keep up with the schedule on my days off than transition back and forth.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. But why not jog at a gym?”

“You can’t get fresh air in a gym. What about you, Ethan?”

“What about me?”

“Why were you out at Green Lake by yourself? I’m used to seeing night owls, but usually those people are working. It’s rare I find someone enjoying a nightly jog the same time I do.

“I’m a private investigator. Sometimes when a case has me stumped, I find a good run helps clear my mind.”

“A private investigator? Really? Why not just join the force?”

“I don’t like being tied down to a schedule. Too many restrictions. I don’t have to wait for warrants to go talk to someone. I just go talk to them.”

“Isn’t that line of work dangerous?”

“Rarely. Part of my caseload is looking into missing property, but a majority of my cases are people checking to see if their spouses are cheating on them.”

“Are they?”

“Nine times out of ten they are. I can always tell that the spouse already knows, they’re just trying to talk themselves out of it. Mostly they want photos to help them with their divorce settlements.”

“Ouch. I would think that makes someone pretty jaded about love.”

“Actually, I believe in the concept of true love.”

“After hearing what you do for a living, I find that hard to believe.”

“No, really. I do. That’s why I’ve never been married. How about you, Sharon? Do you believe in the idea of true love?”

“I believe that there are different kinds of love.”

“Okaaay…. Now you’ve lost me. What does that mean?”

“I believe in people who become significant to your life. I believe it’s possible to fall in love with more than one person because of different qualities. It’s a matter of deciding which love is best for you and making a decision to commit to that one person every day.”

“That… sounds more like a job interview. Not love.”

“Well, how would you describe it? Oh-not-jaded-one?”

“How would I describe love? Hmm… Someone finding their missing piece.”

“Like the children’s story?”

“No, not like that.”

“The idea that we’re born with something fractured from ourselves?”

“No. Not that we’re really born without something. I guess if I had to describe it… It’s like meeting the person whose soul matches yours.”

“Like you’re exactly alike?”

“No, not like similar interests, although those relationships work too. It’s that who they are, their soul, their being, enhances yours. When you’re together, you become something… More. Something bigger and stronger than what you were separately.”

“Wow. That was pretty profound actually.”

“Eh, I guess I’m a hopeless romantic.”

“Who does realize you kind of explained a mixture between the concepts of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde mixed with The Incredible Hulk?”

“Well, I guess you’ve got me there.”