Lately I have been musing on love and what it means.
Are there different types of love? If so, what are they? Do they invalidate each other? Does it matter?
I know that I have never loved a partner like I love my kids and the love I have for my friends is different to the love I feel for my fellow man.
Of course all of these loves are eclipsed by the love I have for the one thing that causes me the most joy while inflicting me with the worst pain imaginable. I am of course referring to my Swear boots. (Oh yes, mummy loves you.)
I, though some will find this hard to believe, am a very loving person with a huge capacity for love. And once I love you, I will always love you. Of course, if you betray me I will cut you off like you were never born, but that won't stop me loving you.
Maybe it's because I'm a witch and to the Goddess 'all acts of love are worship in my sight'. I don't know. I only know that I love.
This doesn't mean I'm *in love* with you in the traditional, get married, have babies, let's grow old together kind of way, but that I have feelings for you that go beyond 'like'.
But it's all good. And it's all love.
If you bring me joy in any way, shape or form, even if it is just to make me smile after a shitty day, I am going to love you.
So, who do I love?
I don't usually name names, so here are a selection of my loves and how many different ways I find it possible to feel that.
Let's get the kids out of the way first.
I have 3 children who I love in a very motherly way even as I am in awe of the people they are becoming. They are all individuals and again I would do absolutely anything for them. Though that love generally means letting them make mistakes and being there to catch them when they fall.
I have two wives who are amazing to me. I love them in a protective but not motherly way. Mad as whole crates of frogs, I love their fire, their individuality and would do anything for them. Woe betide anyone who hurts them for my wrath will be slow and painful.
There is one I love because they are cuddly. And they are proper intelligent and committed to their cause even to the exclusion of themselves sometimes. Intense and brilliant. Who wouldn't love that?
There is one I love because they're not as cuddly, but this doesn't mean they don't let me know that I am important to them. Magnificent of intellect, I am lucky to be allowed into their circle.
One agrees with me on pretty much everything. But will tell me when they think I'm wrong. And worry about me. I love their nurturing warmth and their warm laugh in equal measure.
One challenges me and excites me with their mind. I get breathless trying to keep up with their thought process.
One is really needy and I need that.
One is there when I am feeling needy. And believe me, I often need that!
And I love my fellow man generally even the ones I call cunts as I have hope that with enough love that one day they will not be so cunty. (Which is probably why I am a Socialist and a Trade Union rep).
So. What is love? To me it is accepting someone for exactly who they are, foibles and all and still wanting to spend time with them. It is feeling joy when they do and feeling down when they do and knowing that you would walk to the end of the earth for them if that was what was needed. It makes you put them before yourself and not even mind.
That feeling that you wouldn't be able to breathe without someone. That is love.
That feeling of pride, that swelling of the emotions, that joy. That is love.
Even just pure physical attraction is a type of love.
And when you love someone, I mean *really* love someone, you will make the ultimate sacrifice for them.
You will lend them your Swear boots.
