my careless contagion

The storm blew up while we were a mile from home. As luck would have it, neither of us checked the forecast. The rain never lasts long, but today it did, driving everyone inside. We were alone on the sidewalk, running now. We laughed because it happened so fast. We were soaked within seconds. Glad  I didn't bring my phone. Our happy, little walk turned into a fiasco, but we didn't seem to mind.  When my key hit the lock, I exhaled a sigh of relief. We stripped to our underwear there in the hallway, and you took a shower first. I wondered what was taking so long, but soon you were out and laying on the bed, a towel wrapped around your hair and a soft robe around your still shivering body. I showered quickly and joined you, throwing a fuzzy blanket over us. We laughed at the stupidity of running in the rain when we were already wet, then taking showers after, as if that fixed anything. We were still chilled, and you took off your robe and pressed yourself against me — not as an ...

This is not a joke, though some may laugh. My blog feels like a joke, but it is a place to pause and reflect or, in this case, examine. And maybe find a solution. Betty and Veronica are characters in the Archie comics universe, which I grew up with. Archie is a ginger buffoon, forever caught between competing love interests of two girls. I use the names Betty and Veronica because the girls in question have the same name. I cannot, for the life of me, choose one. It's distressing. I pushed both away at different times, and with the same result. They are unshakable, and I like them both.  Who cares, right? Bro is cooking. Here's why this matters. There is some weird, perverse voodoo with this blog, where, if I write about a woman, she often disappears. So, in order to solve the problem of having two girls interested in me (first time for everything), I will write about them and see who disappears. Call it a test. At this point, I don't care how it is resolved. I go back and f...

It was such a long day without you. You were at a thing with friends until evening. I had an appointment, so I couldn’t go with. I missed you more than usual. I trace your steps around the house, touch your clothes, tap my finger on your perfume, lay on your side of the bed, squeeze your pillow. All to no avail. I can’t conjure you. You’re all around me, but you’re not here.  I look at my phone. I missed a notification. You’re on your way! You’ve been sitting all day, you say, so would I like a walk? Would I like a walk? With my beautiful lady? Yes, a walk, and everything else.  I hear you at the door, but if I bound to you like a golden retriever, I will lose my cool. I wait half a minute, look up, and you’ve found me. An urgent look is on your face. I smile. Goodness, woman, you look good. I like it when you get dressed up. Tonight is no different. We look mismatched because I’m dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. Now we are out the door.  The sky looks ominous, but w...

Perfect by Ed Sheeran is a romantic fairytale of a song. It is beautiful. It is lyrical perfection. I imagine this song has been played thousands of times at weddings and high school dances across the world (and not just because it's a waltz). And the video — which has over 2 billion views, well — there's even a kitten in it!  I hesitate to use the word "perfect" because there is no such thing as perfection in this world. But I've used that word to describe the woman I love. I don't know if love simply blinds us to imperfections or what, but some people really do seem perfect.  During my recent visit to Nebraska, I got to hang out with the woman I am head over heels in love with. The last day, she told me I should see her as she really is without any makeup, with her hair up, and in her jammies. What did she expect me to see? I still saw the beautiful woman I'm in love with. Nothing changed for me. I'd love to wake up next to that every day. Tr...

We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth is a nice pop song. It's a well-done (even the video, which shows both sides), somewhat understated song. Puth's voice is a rarity in the pop realm. It's smooth, not grating, and embraces the notes instead of smacking them upside the head. It's an endearing approach to singing and a little bit of a breath of fresh air. I've admired his voice since the first time I heard him on the radio. Selena Gomez appears on this track. I have to admit, their voices work really well together. That's a rare thing with duet-type songs. Usually, there's a power play with duets, with one voice trying to rise above the other. I don't hear that here.  I don't listen to the radio much anymore because I don't drive that much anymore. So, I have to admit, today is the first day I've heard this song. I like it. It's not over-sexualized or gross. It's just a nice song.  So, clearly, I was attracted to this son...

It's a peculiar death, the death of a romantic. It may look like any other emotional disturbance to the average onlooker, but those who have been there know it's not your average broken heart.  There are tomes full of advice for those who dare fall in love. Throw those away, for you are a rare soul. You are a romantic. You believe against all odds. You hope against hope. You sometimes despair of life because your heart hurts so much, because it just can't reach who it wants to reach, because it lost the one person who was worth more than the world to them. The death of a romantic is heartbreaking to watch. It's like watching the first broken heart the world has ever seen. It's spectacular. And brutal. And it makes you want to scream at them to just buck up, let go, face the facts, walk away, get mad, break something, do anything but endure what they're enduring.  But they just break. They melt. Their life oozes out of them. It's like watching a pri...