love actually

my favorite love story movie of all time is love actually.  whenever i feel down or frustrated with the goings-on in my life, it's my pick-me-upper.  it kind of reassures me that love is, actually, all around.

i have my own version of this movie coming from the love (or non-love, for that matter) of people around me.  some have some sort of semblance with the characters in the movie.  to name a few:

natalie.  she's been through a lot with love.  you can say she's actually through with love -- over and done with.  one day, a friend from way, way back messaged her on facebook.  she hesitantly replied; he was her crush long ago.  one thing led to another and they found out how they eyed each other back in the day and had this secret thing for each other then but only got the chance to tell each other now -- 2 decades after.  he's had a stormy marriage, she's had two.  he's overseas, she's in the mountain.  he's got kids, she's got more.  he's a soon to be president with no one to take care of him but her.

karen.  she found her love long ago, he left her for another woman and they met again years after.  he decided to marry her, despite a previous marriage.  it was bliss until he started fooling around with other women -- again.

jamie.  he married the perfect girl.  they had perfect, beautiful daughters.  he was rich, handsome, funny, smart, generally a good person.  but she wanted to work and live in the states.  so he agreed that they live apart.  for years now.  it's bothering him but he can't do anything about it.  he visits her once a year but this year, he skipped going.

aurelia.  her love has a foreign bloodline, not much like hers.  he grew up with a dysfunctional family and found the love he did not have as a child with her and her family.  they've been going steady for years, went through differences and came out strong as a couple.  last christmas, he asked her to marry him.  next month, my daughter walks down the aisle with them as their flower girl.

stacy.  sex appeal is her middle name.  she turns heads wherever she goes.  she loves herself so much -- or as she says, she loves freedom too much -- that she feels she will be single the rest of her life.  she has one lovechild, by accident, but she loves him deeply and has decided that her little guy will be the only man she will love forever.

to be continued....

marriage and then some

today is a testimony of my love for him more than ever.  ok, i promise this won't be cheesy.  just a matter-of-fact translation of what i actually feel right now.

i was thinking this morning on my way to work, that i've already accepted his mistakes and shortcomings.  yes, after almost 9 years i am finally able to cope.  i guess.  i hope. 

there was a time when i almost gave up on this marriage.  and today i think that experience made our bond stronger.  and all the negative things that happened and may still be happening has brought us to a new level in our relationship, a deeper understanding of our many conflicting personalities that i realized, compliment each other.  like now, his bad temper makes me appreciate when he is extra sweet.  when he does things that are wrong for me, i am reminded of the many right things he does.  when he sometimes scolds the kids excessively, i know he loves them more than they'll ever know.  sometimes, he can be a bit offensive with his words but this is put to good use when he is defending me and our family.  which makes me secure that he will always protect us.  through the years, he has learned to apologize sincerely.  

today his imperfections became the perfect tools for me to decide to love him more.  after all, marriage is not just love, it's a decision.