What is This Thing Called Love

What is this thing called LOVE anyway? Hallmark says it's "when you care enough to send the very best." The Bible suggests it's the essence of the first and greatest commandment. Here at the Manor one sees it in the smiling faces of many new couples who have recently found IT together.

In an effort to find out more about these "later in life" unions, I questioned a number of those I know, about it. I knew you'd want to hear what they said!

Most referred to happy former marriages which gave them the motivation to "try again." Almost all said they "had not been looking" and "had had no intentions of doing so—but it happened." Meeting a very special person and the basic rightness of a man and woman together seemed to take over.

"What makes it worth it?" I asked. "A sense of caring deeply," "feeling special and touching with affection," "being needed," eliminating loneliness," "sharing big and little things," were some of the answers.

I was surprised at how readily and with what ease several referred to the "limited time that might be left" for them; "the desire to share what time we have;" "either of us might not see the light of another day—or we might have several years;" "health can be iffy." But wonderfully, none of this dimmed the excitement!

And, if you assumed that it is much different now than what you experienced as a teen-ager—that now hearts have stopped racing, pulses have calmed down, and hormones have become lethargic, you couldn't be more wrong! Some reported: "It was chemistry!" and "He was driving me crazy!" Others added: "What we found is a gift—a surprise!" "We are constantly amazed at what happened to us!"

My humble assessment of the most important ingredient in turning what could have been a difficult adjustment, at this time in life, into a joyous experience is humor. Those who "bubbled" most, definitely had it! One expressed relief that there would be no unplanned pregnancies. Another summed it up with: "Hysterical laughter at ourselves and life is a privilege renewed and nearly forgotten."

Perhaps "Love is lovelier (or at least no less lovely) the second time around."