What does Love like?

People always wonder what love looks like.  Love is like beautiful sunset. A warm cup of coffee or hug on a cold day. It’s the good and the bad. It’s living your life to the fullest everyday. It’s doing things and being with people who, coincidentally make you laugh, and cry the most.

Love is doing the things you don’t want to do, even when you know it’s going to hurt. Love is sharing the last bite of special ice cream because you know it could be the last. It’s letting go because you know its best for everyone. 

For the longest time after mom was hospitalized back October of 2019 until she passed mom would tell me how much she wished dad would “make love” to her. A thought that in any other circumstances, would make me act like a child and fake barf, just to get a laugh. 

I’d smile, and tell her, “Mom, tell him” and she’d quip back, put her hand on her hip and say, dripping in sarcasm, “hey baby, does my oxygen tube turn you on?” 

Point…. taken. 

“Last time we tried we broke the recliner”….. thinking back to when she was healthy enough to go out and shop and the 2 recliners that broke over the last 5 years.  Wow that was along time ago.

“Alright, mom, I get it!” Its been a while…. double barf….

How do you make love to someone who is terminally ill?

Its easy, really. It’s not about the sexual making love. It’s giving all you’ve got when you feel you have nothing left to give.

After she passed, mom’s best friend, Gina, and I were chatting,  and I brought it up. She said mom would tell her the same thing. And she’d also try to reason “honey you can barely breathe. It’ll kill you.”

“I cant think of a better way to go.” Mom said.

I replied, “funny thing is, Gina.. I don’t think she realized he was making love to her. He was making love to her in the only way he knew how. We all we’re I guess.”

And with that Gina and I shared a laugh, a cry, and a cup of coffee on an emotionally cold day.