Be the Love, Show the Love

Happy Valentine's Day (ahem... my um birthday)

I am, begrudgingly, a romantic person.

It was an unavoidable affliction assigned at birth.

I was born during a record-breaking blizzard in the little Appalachian mountain town of Boone, North Carolina on Valentine’s Day in 1970. We lived in a trailer at the time and I’m told it was so cold that dishes were frozen in the sink that day.

My parents wanted me. Beyond all logic or reason, they wanted a third child. Before having me, my mom miscarried twice, but would not give up. I was supposed to be a girl. Gretchen was the name they had picked out. I would bring the blessing of feminine energy to balance the scales in a home dominated by males. But nothing ever happens according to plan.

Being a Valentine's baby, I’ve had my share of pink birthday cakes over the years and Hallmark cards designed just for my segment of the population whose birthday happens to fall on V-Day. I’ve never really minded. I’m not a man’s man, boys-will-be-boys kind of guy. In my senior year of high school, I was voted “most creative” which was, I think code for “probably gay.”

I believe most human suffering is caused by a deficit of love. This is the greatest tragedy. Love doesn’t actually cost anything and yet we withold it.

By the power vested in me as a love baby king by the secret order of reluctant romantics, I grant you immunity from all snarky cynicism today and invite you to use this Hallmark holiday as an excuse to show someone that you love them. Make love a verb today. It doesn’t have to be a romantic overture. Love is love. When you express love to anyone, anywhere, you change the cosmic balance of the universe at an atomic level. I know for sure this is totally true. It’s like science and shit, for real.

My Valentine’s Gift to You

A year ago, when I was just ramping up Catch & Release I was trying all kinds of crazy stuff. I wrote and produced these Lonely Hearts flash fiction bookends and they made me happy. I’ve removed the paywall so everyone can enjoy a little free love. These little nuggets are like ear candy, so put ‘em in your ears, ideally.

Thanks to all of you dear readers from the bottom of my romantic heart for showing up each week to read and listen to my work. I appreciate you more than you know.