Love

Love is a very funny occurrence. First we take it for granted. Then when we have it we don't even notice it. But, and here is the but, when it is gone it leaves a terrible emptiness.

At a later age people don't think of love. Just like when Tevye asked his wife: Golda, do you love me? And she was stunned at this question. She clearly thought he was nuts to ask. But thinking this out it was not such a stupid question.

We all assume that after living with someone for a long time love is naturally there. We can not grasp it, we can not weigh it, we can not hold it. But we always assume it is there.

But suddenly, when it is not there that is when the world comes crashing down. The empty house, the empty bed, the lack of an embrace or a kiss or a peck is terrible.

I look around at the faces of the people at the Hospital when I attend this monthly session and those who lost a spouse are all in a terrible confusion. The confusion is about life itself. They really don't know how to continue living without their partners.

They are afraid just as I am of life. Nobody knows how to act, what to expect from tomorrow, how to behave, how to do things.

Some have jobs which they do perform but when the day is over or the weekend comes that is when the world closes in. We all are like ships that lost their control and just running around aimlessly in circles.

The women that I know lost the person who was strong and made their life good. The men lost the person who was strong and gave life a purpose.

Without these elements we are that ship.

The lack of love is a terrible feeling. It is combined with loneliness and abandonment and makes life very difficult. The only salvation is good friends who are there when needed and who provide a shoulder to cry on.

I am lucky because I have good friends who fill this criteria.