Love

Last night Geoff and I were watching How I Met Your Mother (which is an excellent show, and if you have neither heard of it nor watched it you should really rectify the situation immediately) and it was the one where Lily and Marshall get married. Now, I may have a soft spot for Lily because she's played by Alyson Hannigan, who I originally fell in love with in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (judge all you want, I'm not ashamed!) but I absolutely LOVE the relationship between Lily and Marshall.
Anyway, I digress, slightly. In this episode Lily and Marshall were at their reception, and it was just crazy. They couldn't eat anything because they kept getting distracted and blocked by people who wanted to hug and say congratulations. Anyway, when they finally left they went to a fast food restaurant where they ordered a couple hotdogs because they were so hungry. Lily had eaten nothing but a few strawberries and champagne, and as Marshall was ordering, the guy behind the counter commented that, "Your wife just threw up in the trash." Marshall turns toward Lily, smiles, and says, "My wife," with so much love in his voice.

When Geoff and I first got married, we did that a lot. We'd just look at each other for the first month or so, and say, "you're my wife!" or "We're married!" or we'd point at our wedding bands and just smile. Now that it's been just over a year, we don't do this anymore, but it doesn't mean we're any less in love, it's just sunk in by now that we're in it for the long haul!

My family isn't a touchy-feely family at all. Though we love each other, growing up I don't remember saying it a lot. This didn't mean that we don't love each other, of course, it was more that we just...didn't say it to each other. We also didn't hug a lot, but now that I'm a little older, I think this could be partly my fault, because I don't like to be touched too much!
Anyway, I digress again. When Geoff and I first said I love you to each other, we said it a lot, especially when we said goodbye. I got into the habit of saying, "I love you! Bye," when we ended our phone calls. After a bit, something interesting happened. I started saying this to my family, too. My sister had moved out to go to college, and I was back living with my parents while I worked full time. My sister and I had just begun to get closer to each other, and we talked on the phone often. I'm so grateful that I started saying I love you when I got off the phone, because I no longer feel funny saying it, whether it's to my sister or parents.

I think it's important to say I love you, and you shouldn't have to stumble over the words awkwardly, like I used to. Because, at the end of the day, you have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow, and I'd hate for something to happen to my parents or sister, or anyone else I love, only to leave me regretting that I didn't say I love you enough. So, love your friends and family today, because tomorrow may change your whole life. You don't know what tomorrow will bring, so say I love you today.