I was thinking last night about what love is and how we show it. Johnny Depp says that the only creatures evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants (he obviously hasnt met Bacchus and Asbo who think that they love me unreservedly if I scratch their tummies!!). And whilst Mr Depp has my full respect for his....ahem.....talents, I dont think hes completely right. Tom Hanks has been quoted as saying theres no substitute for a great love who says No matter whats wrong with you, youre welcome at this table. All well and good but its very general and encompasses everyone - including that crazy woman you live next door to who wont clean the rubbish from her garden and wakes you up at 5am every morning. Im betting shes not going to get served a home cooked meal and a glass of rosé. I think I shall subscribe to the Julia Roberts theory of you know its love when all you want is that person to be happy, even if youre not part of that happiness. Its easy to be there for someone who is suffering, but how easy do we find it in our hearts to be happy for someone who has had great success? Dont we just mutter congratulations through gritted teeth and pray that they experience a sudden bout of flatulence whilst in the company of their new boss? Especially if they got the job over us. Anyways....the reason I started pondering is that last night I was suddenly overcome with a horrible headache. My moaning eventually woke my husband, Paul Demuth who knows exactly what to do in these events and whipped down stairs with a couple of wheaties to slam in the microwave so I can drape them around my head for relief. No matter that its interrupted his paltry six hours of sleep, he does it anyway. And I thought, thats love. On Friday last week I had horrific heart burn for two hours. It was so bad at one point I though I might be having a heart attack. I tried everything in my arsenal. But it was my sister, Karen Ashton-Mills who got dressed and hobbled down the road on her gammy leg, waving her walking stick at speeding cars and dodging Newarks crappy broken paving slabs to fetch me bicarbonate of soda. Thats love. And my friend Helen Nicholson, who is having chemo, still texts me if she hasnt heard from me in 24 hours and asks are you ok? Im worried about you. Thats love. So forgive me my maudlin today but Id like to say Paul, Karen and Helen, I love you guys too. Theyre not the only people I love, but they have been good to me this last week. Now I have to go - I have two dogs who want to express their undying love and devotion to me by allowing me to scratch their tummies!!
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:24:12 +0000